Energy-Water-Food Nexus
Sufficient and secure supplies of energy, water and food are required to support the basic functioning of society and help promote resilient, sustainable development. These resource needs are becoming increasingly interdependent in the face of population growth, climate change, changing consumption patterns and urbanization. Informed planning for future development requires a sophisticated understanding of the complex interrelationships between the energy, water and food sectors. While competing demands for resources poses challenges, they also create opportunities for integrated solutions. The energy-water-food nexus resources help identify solutions that consider collective impacts and provide tools and strategies to promote sustainable development outcomes.
On these pages, the topics of energy, water and food are represented as “sectors”. Each sector considers the interrelationship between energy, water and food using an “input model”. For example, the land/food sector presents how energy and water are inputs to the land/food sector. The integrated approaches topic considers the interrelationship of all three sectors.
Energy Sector
The topic of energy includes energy sources in the built environment, electricity and thermal energy, and transportation sectors as well as industry impacts from energy use. Each subtopic is categorized by the competing demands for water and land/food resources associated with each energy source. The topic also emphasizes policies, standards and best practices for each energy source that relates to water and land/food resources. Learn more.
- Built Environment
- Electricity and Thermal Energy
- Food Resources and Land Use
- Industry Impacts
- Transport
- Water Use
Food Sector
The topic of food refers to both food and land resources. It includes fertilizers and pesticides, food production and industry impacts associated with the land/food sector. Each subtopic is categorized by the competing demands for water and energy resources. The topic also emphasizes policies, standards and best practices for land/food as they relate to water and energy resources. Learn more.
Water Sector
The topic of water is broken into major use categories, including source water, drinking water, wastewater and reuse, and it considers industry impacts from water use. Each subtopic is categorized by the competing demands for energy and land/food resources associated with each water source. The topic also emphasizes policies, standards and best practices for each water source that relates to energy and land/food resources. Learn more.
- Drinking Water
- Energy Use
- Food Resources and Land Use
- Industry Impacts
- Raw Water
- Reuse
- Wastewater and Stormwater
Integrated Approaches
The integrated approaches topic considers actions that affect all three sectors of the energy-water-food nexus. This section presents an integrated perspective on models and tools, polices and plans, resource security and technology solutions that facilitate nexus thinking or problem solving in support of sustainable development. Using an integrated approach ensures the interests of each sector are fairly represented and that no sector is short-changed in development decisions. Learn more.
Resources CESC
Publication
Climate action and the energy transition: IRENA Member survey on Nationally Determined Contributions
Sources:
International Renewable Energy Agency
Date:
1 June 2024
Publication
Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2024
Sources:
International Renewable Energy Agency
Date:
1 June 2024
Publication
Electrification with renewables: Enhancing healthcare delivery in São Tomé and Príncipe
Sources:
International Renewable Energy Agency
Date:
1 June 2024
Tools and Websites
Good Clean Energy Jobs Powered by the Inflation Reduction Act
Sources:
U.S. Department of Labor
Tools and Websites
State of the US Clean Energy Transition: Recent Progress, and What Comes Next
Sources:
World Resources Institute
Date:
7 February 2024
Publication
Egypt - Country Partnership Framework for the Period FY2023-2027 (English)
Sources:
World Bank
Date:
21 February 2023
Publication
World Energy Scenario Foundations 2024
Sources:
World Energy Council
Date:
18 April 2024
Publication
Clean Energy Market Monitor
Sources:
International Energy Agency
Date:
1 March 2024
Publication
Energy democracy as a process, an outcome and a goal: A conceptual review
Sources:
Energy Research & Social Science
Date:
1 November 2020
Publication
Energy Democracy: Honoring the Past and Investing in a New Energy Economy
Sources:
Race Forward
Date:
5 May 2021
Publication
Monitoring Progress of the Technology Roadmap (TRM) 2021
Sources:
Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum
Date:
13 October 2022
Publication
Scaling Up Energy Efficiency in Developing Countries
Sources:
United States Agency International Development
Date:
1 November 2020
Publication
Defining and conceptualising energy policy failure: The when, where, why, and how
Sources:
Energy Policy
Date:
1 February 2022
Publication
Reshaping Australian Food Systems
Sources:
Australia's National Science Agency
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Date:
15 June 2023
Publication
Energy Efficiency Policy Workshop: Developing Fuel Economy Regulations
Sources:
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Date:
1 June 2019
Tools and Websites
Building America's Clean Energy Future - Interactive Map
Sources:
U.S. Department of Energy
Date:
22 March 2024
Publication
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Pipeline Development: Federal Initiatives
Sources:
Congressional Research Service
Date:
2 May 2023
Publication
New Energy Outlook 2022
Sources:
BloombergNEF
Date:
1 January 2022