Ten Years of Research on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: An Analysis of Topics Evolution

Abstract

This study explores how the concept and research on the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus has evolved over time. The research uncovers the key terms underpinning the phenomenon, maps the interlinkages between WEF nexus topics, and provides an overview of the evolution of the concept of WEF nexus. We analyzed published academic literature from the Scopus database and performed both qualitative and quantitative analyses using Natural Language Processing method. The findings suggest that the nexus approach is increasingly evolving into an integrative concept, and has been incorporating new topics over time, resulting in different methods for WEF nexus research, with a focus on interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral analyses. Through the five periods outlined, we have identified the nexus approach debate focused on the following predominant topics: i) Trend 1 (2012–2016) debates on WEF nexus for water management and natural resource security, ii) Trend 2 (2017–2018) linkages between the nexus, the sustainable development goals and green economy, iii) Trend 3 (2019) WEF nexus governance and policy integration, iv) Trend 4 (2020) application of the nexus concept on different scales, including regions, countries, watersheds, urban areas as well as other components coupled to the WEF nexus, and, v) Trend 5 (2021) climate change and urban nexus challenges.

Appraising the Water‐Energy‐Food Nexus From a Sustainable Development Perspective: A Maturing Paradigm?

“…Clearly, the nexus has evolved since its inception (Lazaro et al., 2022). Described as a policy “buzzword” (Cairns & Krzywoszynska, 2016), during its adolescence the nexus has birthed multiple variations, leading to a variety of interpretations and the charge of having no universal definition (Endo et al., 2017).…”

“…Such studies are also vital to avoid, as Lazaro et al. (2022) put it, “future conflict and how political and social stability are significantly correlated with food‐water‐energy security” (p. 5). The use of nexus thinking to reveal vulnerabilities and risks and enhance resilience to shocks triggered by climate change is consequently growing.…”

“…To maintain momentum and maximize the positive contribution of the nexus to sustainable development across the seven challenge areas outlined in Section 5, we offer 10 emerging and underexplored avenues that we believe are necessary to undergird those developments and should be an increasing focus of nexus research going forwards: Address the impacts of nexus developments on human rights, environmental justice and just transitions (da Silva et al., 2020); Identify more inclusive stakeholder participatory and deliberative decision‐making processes to provide plural insights and shared understandings (Cabello et al., 2021; Fontana et al., 2021; Lazaro et al., 2022; Naidoo et al., 2021); Configure nexus systems to aid a green recovery as part of the “build back better” narrative from the COVID19 pandemic (Al‐Saidi & Hussein, 2021; Durodola et al., 2020); Define nexus interventions that emphasize system interconnectedness and lead to long‐term and sustainable human and environmental health (Nhamo & Ndlela, 2021); Investigate the probabilities and consequences of compounding nexus shocks on human migration and displacement (Daher et al., 2021), broadening the scope of the nexus to intersect with what has been termed the “disaster risk, global change, and sustainability nexus” (Peduzzi, 2019); Understand how nature‐based solutions and green infrastructure and associated green finance can enhance the climate resilience and adaptive capacity of nexus systems (Bellezoni et al., 2021; Hogeboom et al., 2021; Muthee et al., 2021); Institutionalize nexus thinking into governance systems at multiple scales, advancing a polycentric approach, for improved policy integration, cross‐sectoral planning and coordination for sustainable development (Lazaro et al., 2022; Mabhaudhi et al., 2021; Rasul & Neupane, 2021; Rasul et al., 2021; Srigiri & Dombrowsky, 2022); Explore how to close the gender gap in access to nexus resources and their management, decision‐making capabilities, and social relations (Purwanto et al., 2021; Villamor et al., 2020); Seek insights from retrospective forms of nexus management or “ancient WEF,” that can be adapted to our modern‐day nexus challenges (Pueppke, 2021); Utilize frontier data science technologies, such as Big Data and AI, and expand the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, to fully integrate multi‐source, multi‐temporal, and multi‐scale georeferenced data into nexus planning and implementation (Pitts et al., 2020; Taguta et al., 2022). …”

“…Identify more inclusive stakeholder participatory and deliberative decision‐making processes to provide plural insights and shared understandings (Cabello et al., 2021; Fontana et al., 2021; Lazaro et al., 2022; Naidoo et al., 2021);…”

“…Institutionalize nexus thinking into governance systems at multiple scales, advancing a polycentric approach, for improved policy integration, cross‐sectoral planning and coordination for sustainable development (Lazaro et al., 2022; Mabhaudhi et al., 2021; Rasul & Neupane, 2021; Rasul et al., 2021; Srigiri & Dombrowsky, 2022);…”