Global Workshop on the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus

The global stock-taking workshop on assessments of the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus and response measures in transboundary basins took place in the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 6 and 7 December 2016, back to back with the fourth meeting of the Task Force on the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus (Geneva, 8 December 2016) .

With the adoption of the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is clear that as the SDGs on energy, food security, water and ecosystems ─ and beyond ─ are closely interlinked and there are trade-offs involved. Therefore, an intersectoral  (nexus) approach is required to support dialogue about the impacts, priorities and choices related to progress in different areas of sustainable development.  

Coordination between the resource sectors and cooperation between the riparian countries in transboundary basins where impacts of sectoral management can spread from one country to another is complex but necessary.

The aim of this workshop was not only to review what is the current understanding and practical application of the nexus concept, but also to discuss possible management responses in the light of expectations from Governments as well as from organizations for transboundary cooperation, notably river basin organizations.

The workshop is a part of the area of work on the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus.

A short article by UNECE on the Nexus meetings can be found here.