Food and water are deeply linked, and together Fwith energy, have ensured continued existence of humans and ecosystems on Earth for millennia. There are several embedded intimate links within socioecological systems such as agricultural production systems that characterise the nexus between water, energy and food.
The nexus concept
Nexus thinking is born out of the idea that there are, in effect, 'no externalities'. An externality is the cost or benefit that affects a party that did not choose to incur it (Buchanan and Stubblebine 1962). Internalisation of the implications of and interactions with other life-supporting resources that had hitherto been externalised in policy and practice related to a particular resource is the essential challenge of the nexus. Taking forward from the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 underscore the global community's awakening to interdisciplinary solutions, sustainability and equity.
The idea of the food-water-energy nexus first gained attention in 1983 within the Food-Energy Nexus Programme at United Nations University. The programme examined food-energy challenges in developing countries, stressing on technology and policy solutions (Sachs and Silk 1990). The pursuit of environmentally sustainable economic growth puts immense stress on depleting natural resources in developing countries. This presents a more complex problem than industrialised nations as 'developed' countries by virtue of their stage of economic development undergo less rapid economic and population growth.
The Indian case
In India, the Green Revolution of the 1960s helped ensure food security for the starving millions. However, the economics of crop pricing and markets associated with the Green Revolution had damaging and far-reaching consequences on the country's water, energy and land resources.
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Role Of Smart Meters In Energy Management
Energy metering in India has evolved over several years. Apart from energy accounting and revenue management, it plays a crucial role in billing efficiency, renewable energy integration and load management. The Government of India is now focusing on the need to adopt prepaid and smart meters to bring down the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses.
Water-Food-Energy Nexus In India
In these times of agriculture crisis and falling water tables, it is important to rework policies to better address key challenges in the irrigation-power space, argues this article reproduced from TERI.
Investigating The Water-Energy Nexus (WEN) In Indian Industry
This paper attempts to provide the need, background and context for a comprehensive WEN strategic programme in Indian industry.
Wef Nexus – Applying An Inter-sectoral Lens To Meet Growing Needs
Ritu Thakur of the CDKN-Asia team and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia, describes how an inter-sectoral development approach in Nashik, the "backyard of Mumbai", is helping meet people's growing needs for water, energy and food.
Integrating Water Streams
This article discusses the concept and practice of Integrated Water Cycle Management, its growing relevance in the context of changing climate and customer values and also the irrelevance of the business model with which water utilities have been operating for long.
Exploring The Water-energy Nexus
There is a clear need in urban India and the countryside for concerted investigations that address the water sector's impact on energy resources, and the energy sector's impact on water resources, including development, operations and end-uses, says Hariharan Chandrashekar.
Integrated System Packages For Deep Energy Retrofits In Commercial Buildings
This article presents opportunities and challenges for implementing deep energy retrofits in commercial buildings and describes research efforts to develop scalable energy efficiency packages.
Review Of France's Roadmap For Positive-Energy And Low-Carbon Buildings And Building Clusters
France's roadmap for positive-energy and low- carbon buildings and building clusters was prepared way back in 2010 based on a study undertaken by an expert group to align with the French energy legislation adopted in 2005, with a target to lower greenhouse gas emissions by threequarters by 2050 compared to 1990 (the so-called Factor 4 objective).
‘Mean' Green
If climate change commitments are taken seriously by world governments, their industries will follow suit and drive change from unsustainable practices to sustainable practices. The energy and environment management professionals whose professional and personal lives are so directly connected to this cause have a pivotal role to play in driving change at all levels.
An Eco-Conscious Guest House's Journey Towards Energy Sustainability
This article presents the efforts of a sea-front eco-conscious guest house in Puducherry in lowering its energy footprint without compromising the services provided to the guests.
