Australian Climate, Energy and Water Policies: conflicts and synergies

Climate and southern Africa's water–energy–food nexus

“…Debate is ongoing about whether there is anything new about the nexus that distinguishes it from earlier integrative framings 87,88 . Some argue that a nexus framing is better at uncovering more effective approaches and methods for cross-sectoral integration by examining trade-offs and co-benefits, and through linking disparate knowledge sets and improving governance 89 .…”

“…Some argue that a nexus framing is better at uncovering more effective approaches and methods for cross-sectoral integration by examining trade-offs and co-benefits, and through linking disparate knowledge sets and improving governance 89 . However, entrenched vertically structured government departments and sector-based structures of agencies, policies and regulatory mechanisms complicate coordination, and remain challenges to cross-sectoral integration [87][88][89] . The political economy of governance and operation is further challenged by regional and intraregional institutional capacity and power imbalances.…”

Tracing the Water–Energy–Food Nexus: Description, Theory and Practice

“…Debate continues about whether there is essentially anything new or innovative about the nexus that distinguishes it from preceding holistic framings such as integrated natural resource management (Pittock et al 2013;Rees 2013). The nexus framing certainly bears similarities to and builds on principles from other holistic approaches to environmental decision-making, including integrated natural resource management, integrated water resources management (IWRM) and sustainable development (Allouche et al 2014;Davis 2014;Rees 2013;Stringer et al 2014).…”

“…Access to these resources and their effective management underpin development progress. The persistence of sectoral approaches to policy-making, however, has led to key resource constraints and policy responses being considered in isolation due to segmented planning and decision-making frameworks, with inadequate attention to the complex interactions that exist between sectors and resource systems (Pittock et al 2013). This has often resulted in policies creating unintended consequences, such as increased WEF resource pressures, thereby exacerbating livelihood insecurities and undermining sustainable development (Bizikova et al 2013).…”

“…However, as Middleton and Allan (2014) caution, systems approaches have also been widely critiqued as inadequately theorised or under-politicised, particularly from historical and relational perspectives. Various incentives operate for government, business, civil society and other actors to adopt nexus approaches such as improving financial efficiency and effectiveness of development interventions by achieving multiple sustainable development goals and minimising the trade-offs and the risks of adverse cross-sectoral impacts (Bazilian et al 2011;Beck and Walker 2013;Hoff 2011;Pittock et al 2013). …”