Can the Implementation of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Support Economic Growth in the Mediterranean Region? The Current Status and the Way Forward
Date
2019-07-20
Authors
Markantonis, Vasileios
Reynaud, Arnaud
Karabulut, Armagan
El Hajj, Rana
Altinbilek, Dogan
Awad, Ibrahim M.
Bruggeman, Adriana
Constantianos, Vangelis
Mysiak, Jaroslav
Lamaddalena, Nicola
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Abstract
Water resources is a crucial environmental good for the function of the human societies
and the ecosystems. Moreover, water is an important input for the economy and
an indispensable factor for economic growth. Especially in regions that are facing
water scarcity, the adoption of water management policies and approaches fostering
the sustainable use of resources while promoting economic growth becomes an
emerging issue. The Mediterranean region is one of the most vulnerable regions
regarding the availability of water resources due to climate change and human activities.
The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus offers an integrated approach analyzing the
synergies and trade-offs between the different sectors in order to maximize the
efficiency of using the resources, whereas adapting optimum policies and institutional
arrangements. The Mediterranean is a region where we observe a large spectrum
of issues emanating from water pollution and natural resource degradation to
water scarcity, large amounts of food loss and waste and increasing demand for
energy and food. Agricultural practices, urban development, demand management
for water, and protection of ecosystems, particularly aquatic ecosystems, are areas
of particular intervention available to the decision-makers in enhancing availability of
water for the various water using sectors. In this context, the current policy note
paper aims to address a major issue: how can the implementation of the WEF Nexus support the economic growth in the Mediterranean? Based on the outcome
of an experts and stakeholders regional workshop, this paper presents the current
status, including the opportunities and the practices of applying the WEF Nexus in the
Mediterranean and draws specific recommendations for the way forward. Regarding the
later, the strengthening of WEF Nexus in the Mediterranean requires a set of interventions
to strengthen the institutional capacities, to enhance the finance mechanisms, to support
the intra-regional dialogue as well, to enhance data collection and management, as well
as to implement economic instruments and integrated economic approaches tomeasure
the impact of Nexus into economy and employment.
Description
Keywords
economic growth , Water-Energy-Food Nexus , Mediterranean , water policy , economic instruments , recommendations , opportunities , integrated approach
Citation
Markantonis V, Reynaud A, Karabulut A, El Hajj R, Altinbilek D, Awad IM, Bruggeman A, Constantianos V, Mysiak J, Lamaddalena N, Matoussi MS, Monteiro H, Pistocchi A, Pretato U, Tahboub N, Tunçok IK, Ünver O, Van Ek R, Willaarts B, Bülent S, Zakir T and Bidoglio G (2019) (2019) Can the Implementation of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Support Economic Growth in the Mediterranean Region? The Current Status and the Way Forward. Front. Environ. Sci. 7:84. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2019.00084