Bonn2011 Nexus Conference // Background Paper "Understanding the Nexus"

Introduction

This paper for the Bonn 2011 Conference presents initial evidence for how a nexus approach can enhance water, energy and food security by increasing efficiency, reducing trade-offs, building synergies and improving governance across sectors. It also underpins policy recommendations, which are detailed in a separate paper.

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT
1.1. Why do we need a nexus approach?
1.2. Guiding principles for the nexus approach

2. THE NEXUS
2.1. The nexus sectors
2.2. Interactions across the nexus
2.3. Climate change and the nexus
2.4. International and geopolitical aspects of the nexus
2.5. Knowledge gaps in the nexus

3. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING WATER, ENERGY AND FOOD SECURITY
THROUGH A NEXUS APPROACH
3.1. Increasing resource productivity
3.2. Using waste as a resource in multi-use systems
3.3. Stimulating development through economic incentives
3.4. Governance, institutions and policy coherence
3.5. Benefiting from productive ecosystems
3.6. Integrated poverty alleviation and green growth
3.7. Capacity building and awareness raising

Contributors

The development of "Understanding the Nexus" has been coordinated and led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

Other main contributors were:

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
• Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)
• TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
• WWF

Further Reading

• Bonn2011 Nexus Conference // Messages from the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference
• Bonn2011 Nexus Conference // Conference Synopsis
• Bonn2011 Nexus Conference // Policy Recommendations

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