Integrated Climate-land-energy-water Solutions

Integrated Climate-land-energy-water Solutions
Author: Adriano Vinca
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2021
Genre:
ISBN:

This dissertation reviews the progress in climate, land, energy and water (CLEW) multi-scale models and proposes a framework for quantitative assessment of multi-sector long-term policies. The so-called CLEW nexus approaches have shown their usefulness in assessing strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the contexts of increasing demands, resource scarcity, and climate change. This thesis contributes to existing research by (1) focusing on the palette of feasible long-term sustainable solutions at different scales to face current and future sustainable development challenges; (2) improving understanding of how CLEW models can best advise on sustainable development research and highlighting the strengths and limitations of existing configurations; (3) inquiring what is needed for new tools to be accessible, transferable and successful in informing the final user. This dissertation first reviews a set of models that can meet the needs of decision makers discussing research gaps and critical needs and opportunities for further model development from a scientific viewpoint. Particular attention is given to model accessibility, usability, and community support. The review explores at different scales where and why some nexus interactions are most relevant, finding, for example, that both very small scale and global models tend to neglect some CLEW interactions. This dissertation also presents the Nexus Solutions Tool (NEST): a new open modeling platform that integrates multi-scale energy-water-land resource optimization with distributed hydrological modeling. The new approach provides insights into the vulnerability of water, energy and land resources to future socioeconomic and climatic change and how multi-sectoral policies, technological solutions and investments can improve the resilience and sustainability of transformation pathways while avoiding counterproductive interactions among sectors. Finally, a case study analysis of the Indus River Basin in South Asia demonstrates the capability of the NEST framework to capture important interlinkages across system transformation pathways towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The results show how the Indus countries could lower costs for development and reduce soil pollution and water stress, by cooperating on water resources, electricity and food production.

Integrated Assessment of Climate, Land, Energy and Water

Integrated Assessment of Climate, Land, Energy and Water
Author: IAEA
Publisher: International Atomic Energy Agency
Total Pages: 74
Release: 2021-01-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9201139209

This publication presents the findings of an IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on the development and application of the integrated climate, land, energy and water (CLEW) framework. Together with other UN partners, the IAEA has developed this framework in response to global challenges such as ensuring universal access to food, energy and water, to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals. The publication reflects the objectives of the CRP to expand and improve the knowledge base, tools and toolkits available for integrated assessment of climate, land, energy and water, as well as demonstrate the applicability of these tools in different countries facing diverse challenges. The research results help to identify practical strategies and policies for coherent development and management of land, water and energy resources, and responses to climate change.

Climate and Energy-Water-Land System Interactions

Climate and Energy-Water-Land System Interactions
Author: U. S. Department Energy
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 150
Release: 2015-06-07
Genre:
ISBN: 9781514253205

This report highlights much of the limited information on and understanding of climate and energy-water-land (EWL) system interactions in the context of issues, potential impacts, and long-term research needs. The report begins with a detailed characterization of the climate-EWL nexus and associated issues in terms of the interfaces between the three interdependent energy, water, and land resource sectors. This report provides a framework to characterize and understand the important elements of climate and EWL system interactions. It identifies many of the important issues, discusses our understanding of those issues, and identifies the research needs to address the priority scientific challenges and gaps in our understanding. Much of the discussion is organized around two discrete case studies with the broad themes of (1) extreme events and (2) regional differences. A conceptual model is presented that defines the EWL nexus in terms of resource supply and demand linkages. Using this model, the report briefly describes the paired bilateral interfaces of energy-water, energy-land, and land-water, as well as the integrated three-part system of energy-water-land interfaces. It also includes examples of supply-demand linkages and processes for selected human and ecosystem support applications. The report then explores how individual bilateral interfaces interact in response to climate. Next, the report addresses risk, uncertainty, and vulnerability in the context of sector interfaces. Mitigation and adaptation decision-making vulnerabilities, opportunities, and coordination are then discussed in light of their EWL relationships. Finally, long-term research needs are discussed in the context of challenges and opportunities with regard to data completeness and accuracy; requirements for integrated modeling including energy, water, and land systems; and identified risks, vulnerabilities, and uncertainties.

The Food-Energy-Water Nexus

The Food-Energy-Water Nexus
Author: Peter Saundry
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 686
Release: 2020-04-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3030299147

This will be the first textbook on the integration of food, energy and water systems (FEWS). In recent years, the world has seen a dramatic rise in interdisciplinary energy and environmental courses and degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the US for instance, the number and variety of such programs has increased significantly over the past decade, Simultaneously, national and international initiatives that integrate food, energy and water systems have been launched. This textbook provides a substantive introduction to the food-energy-water nexus suitable for use in higher level undergraduate and graduate level courses and for scholars moving into the field of nexus studies without a strong background in all three areas and the many aspects of nexus studies.

Food-Energy-Water Systems: Achieving Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century

Food-Energy-Water Systems: Achieving Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century
Author: Charles Vörösmarty
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2024-01-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 2832543189

extreme weather will mean ongoing challenges to the capacity of these sectors to support human well-being, grow the economy, and provide critical environmental services. Society has yet to evaluate the resilience of FEWS to climate, environmental, and management stresses as it shapes strategies to support sustainable development over the next decades. These issues constitute a quintessential interdisciplinary research challenge and require a well-structured science agenda and supportive information services for implementing key findings that governments and stakeholders can adopt. Integrated policy pathways require usable research findings, applications, models, real-time information systems, and decision support systems. In addition, stakeholder engagement is essential to communicate the benefits and results of these approaches and to engage appropriate groups in their implementation.

The Water-Energy Nexus in the American West

The Water-Energy Nexus in the American West
Author: Douglas S. Kenney
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2011-01-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1849809372

The nexus between water and energy raises a set of public policy questions that go far beyond water and energy. Economic vitality and management of scarce and precious resources are at stake. This book contributes to the body of knowledge and understanding regarding water, energy, and the links between the two in the American West and beyond. The research and analyses presented by the authors shed new light on the choices that must be made in order to avoid unnecessary harm in the development and management of water and energy systems to meet public needs in an ever changing environmental and economic climate. Indeed, the book shows, thoughtfully designed new technologies and approaches can help restore damaged environments and provide a range of benefits. The focus is the American West, but many of the lessons are global in their applicability. After a broad, stage-setting introductory section, the volume looks first at the use of water for energy production and then follows with chapters on the role of energy in water projects. The final section looks at the way forward, providing cases and recommendations for better, more efficient linkages in the water–energy nexus. Students and researchers in economics, public policy, environmental studies and law along with planners and policymakers will find this accessible and very current volume invaluable.

The Land-Water-Energy Nexus

The Land-Water-Energy Nexus
Author: Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Total Pages: 142
Release: 2017-11-15
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1780409273

This report contributes to the discussion of interconnections between scarce resources by highlighting the nexus between land, water and energy (the LWE nexus). It focuses on a dynamic, integrated, and disaggregated analysis of how land, water and energy interact in the biophysical and economic systems. The report provides projections for the biophysical and economic consequences of nexus bottlenecks until 2060, highlighting that while the LWE nexus is essentially local, there can be significant large-scale repercussions in vulnerable regions, notably on forest cover and in terms of food and water security. The analysis is based on coupling a gridded biophysical systems model with a multi-regional, multi-sectoral dynamic general equilibrium modelling assessment. Numerical insights are provided by investigating a carefully selected set of scenarios that are designed to illustrate the key bottlenecks: one scenario for each resource bottleneck, plus two scenarios that combine all bottlenecks, with and without an overlay of climate change.

Water, Energy, Food and People Across the Global South

Water, Energy, Food and People Across the Global South
Author: Larry A. Swatuk
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2017-10-16
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 3319640240

This collection critically engages the resource use nexus. Clearly, a nexus-approach to resource policy, planning and practice is essential if sustainable development goals are to be met. In particular, in an era of climate change, an integrated approach to water, energy and agriculture is imperative. Agriculture accounts for 70% of global water withdrawals, food production accounts for 30% of global energy use and a rising global population requires more of everything. As shown in this collection, scholars of resource development, governance and management are ‘nexus sensitive’, utilizing a sort of ‘nexus sensibility’ in their work as it focuses on the needs of people particularly, but not only, in the global South. Importantly, a nexus-approach presents academics and practitioners with a discursive space in which to shape policy through research, to deepen and improve understandings of the interconnections and impacts of particular types of resource use, and to critically reflect on actions taken in the name of the ‘nexus’.

The Water, Food, Energy and Climate Nexus

The Water, Food, Energy and Climate Nexus
Author: Felix Dodds
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2016-03-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1317277848

Global trends of population growth, rising living standards and the rapidly increasing urbanized world are increasing the demand on water, food and energy. Added to this is the growing threat of climate change which will have huge impacts on water and food availability. It is increasingly clear that there is no place in an interlinked world for isolated solutions aimed at just one sector. In recent years the "nexus" has emerged as a powerful concept to capture these inter-linkages of resources and is now a key feature of policy-making. This book is one of the first to provide a broad overview of both the science behind the nexus and the implications for policies and sustainable development. It brings together contributions by leading intergovernmental and governmental officials, industry, scientists and other stakeholder thinkers who are working to develop the approaches to the Nexus of water-food-energy and climate. It represents a major synthesis and state-of-the-art assessment of the Nexus by major players, in light of the adoption by the United Nations of the new Sustainable Development Goals and Targets in 2015. With a foreword by HRH the Prince of Wales