Measuring urban food-energy-water nexus sustainability: Finding solutions for cities
Journal
Science of the Total Environment
Journal Volume
752
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Abstract
A city is the place where food, energy, and water consumption happen. This consumption leads to challenges and has a strong impact on natural sources. Although researchers broadly agree on the importance of incorporating the concept of the food, energy, and water nexus into policy strategies and decision-making, the assessment system for how governance methods can improve the provision of these three essential services is relatively blank. To clarify the policy mechanisms and heterogeneity of sustainability issues related to the food, energy and water nexus at the city level, this study develops an indicator system to guide the implementations and optimize urban sustainability. A qualitative approach is employed to form the priority strategies in in four selected cities: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Taipei, and Tainan. The results show that renewable energy plays an essential role in the food-energy-water nexus. In addition, we also observed that future work should focus on technological innovation. These observations imply that the unique combination of influence factors in food-energy-water sustainability offers a comprehensive outlook of the broad and complex challenges that a city faces due to resource limitations, which can help inform future governance practices. Finally, some policy recommendations are made for highlighting and the activities needed to work. The results of the present evaluation could be used as a tool to strengthen food-energy-water management in the future. They can guide managers to develop possible solutions that ensure resources are applied successfully according to the visions of multiple perspectives and help the relevant ministries to improve future consultation plans.
Other Subjects
Decision making; Water management; Policy recommendations; Qualitative approach; Renewable energies; Resource limitations; Sustainability issues; Technological innovation; Urban sustainability; Water sustainability; Sustainable development; analytical hierarchy process; decision making; future prospect; resource management; strategic approach; sustainability; urban area; water management; water resource; agricultural land; Article; comparative study; decision making; electricity; energy consumption; environmental impact assessment; environmental indicator; environmental monitoring; environmental sustainability; fluid intake; food industry; food intake; geographic distribution; government; law; priority journal; renewable energy; urban area; waste water; Amsterdam [North Holland]; Eindhoven; Netherlands; North Brabant; North Holland; Tainan; Taipei; Taiwan
Type
journal article