A cross-sectoral policymaking framework for shared
The water, energy, food and ecosystems (WEFE) nexus reflects how interconnected resources are, with changes in one area impacting the others. Consequently, there is a drive to develop policies that treat them as a dynamic system, one strained by wider trends such as climate change, population growth and changing consumer behaviour. “When ripples from one part of the WEFE nexus impact others, it can have significant economic or social consequences, reducing trade or increasing prices for example,” says Janez Sušnik, coordinator of the EU-funded NEXOGENESIS(opens in new window) project. “With isolated policies leading to depleted resources, environmental degradation and even conflict, joining the policy dots is becoming urgent.” In response, NEXOGENESIS designed and validated a cross-sectoral policymaking framework, incorporating climate change and socio-economic trends, and informed by stakeholder input and transboundary (diplomacy) considerations.
Tools to support informed decision-making
Key to the NEXOGENESIS methodology was an interactive platform, the NExus Policy Assessment Tool(opens in new window) (NEPAT), which integrates water-related policies into the WEFE nexus. NEPAT uses modelling, informed by data that feeds IPCC reports(opens in new window), to simulate the likely impacts of WEFE policies in given scenarios, forecasting outcomes through to 2050. Machine learning analyses policy options, recommending resource strategies for specific objectives. “Decision makers can identify synergies, unintended consequences and trade-offs. While users can also collaboratively simulate and report policy scenarios, generating data visualisations to guide transparent policy dialogues,” explains Sušnik, associate professor of Water Resources Management at project host IHE Delft Institute for Water Education(opens in new window) in the Netherlands. NEPAT is complemented by the WEFE Footprint(opens in new window) tool, which provides a visual snapshot of nexus interactions for a specific region and scenario, including the positive, negative or neutral impacts of decisions at any point in time.
Validation through five case studies
The NEXOGENESIS approach was tested in five case studies: four European river basins between: Greece and Bulgaria(opens in new window) and Latvia and Lithuania(opens in new window); and within: Romania(opens in new window) and Italy(opens in new window), with one in South Africa(opens in new window). For each, stakeholders established key local challenges and worked towards co-created solutions. In the Nestos/Mesta river basin, flooding and coastal erosion, ecological preservation, climate change mitigation and increased renewable energy were cited as priorities. Situated downstream from Bulgaria, Greece relies on the river’s water flow for two of its dams. NEXOGENESIS tools and provision of a neutral platform for transboundary dialogues helped foster a sense of shared responsibility. “Effective water governance is usually more about addressing power dynamics and sustained commitment, than technical solutions. Building trust through measures like implementing more accountability and monitoring mechanisms, is central,” adds Sušnik.
Contributing to EU policy ambitions
The project’s case studies show the value of NEXOGENESIS tools, complemented by stakeholder engagement, in providing a framework for policies that enhance cooperation. The approach supports several EU initiatives, including the Water Framework Directive(opens in new window) and the Green Deal(opens in new window). “While bottom-up solutions like ours do return real benefits, impacts will remain fragmented unless efforts are pooled into more formal collaborative transnational decision-making mechanisms,” notes Sušnik. The fully functional NEPAT now forms the basis of the team’s ongoing ambitions to further develop a comprehensive WEFE policy framework.
