WEFWEB explores the challenges of understanding and identifying the dynamic, interlinked interdependencies across the physical, social and political, ecological and digital nexus networks at multiple, nested scales and temporally.
The nexus networks are:
- Physical – water, waste, energy and food
- Social and political – individual, regulatory and policy
- Ecological and digital at multiple, nested scales – local, regional and national
- Temporally
The ECI Food Group leads on the food aspect.
Water-energy-food interdependencies: implications for Local Authorities
The nexus of interdependencies between the water, energy and food (WEF) systems are multiple. The increasing pressure on all these systems has been described as the ‘perfect storm’; stresses and shocks in one system have potential knock-on effects on the others, with implications for life and its quality. A multi-disciplinary study – WEFWEBS – sought to explore, map and measure these relationships at multiple scales and in different places across the UK. Local Authorities can play a critical role in building awareness of the water-energy-food nexus regionally, and developing capacity and resilience to manage likely stresses and strains.