Objective

To foster the adoption of a Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus approach in the Mediterranean through a Nexus Community of Practice (NCoP) to confront the climatic and environmental challenges facing societies and agro-ecological systems.

Specific objectives

Facilitate the identification, testing, dissemination and replication of Nexus solutions in the Mediterranean; showcase to policymakers and other stakeholders the advantages of Nexus approach using specific case studies; promote the deployment of regional demonstration sites as laboratories for replication, upscaling and policy design..

Description

Climate change and growing populations are placing additional pressure on the availability of food, energy and water in the Mediterranean, accompanied by an increased environmental footprint. The Water, Energy, Food, Ecosystems Nexus (Nexus) approach is key to ensuring resilient, circular and green economies and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and Nexus demonstrators are already showing its transformative potential for the Region. However, there is a long way ahead before the Nexus approach is mainstreamed and applied at large in policies and practices. To ramp up uptake, a robust mechanism is needed to support mobilization of a range of stakeholders across countries, sharing their expectations, experiences and knowledge, and providing evidence of benefits to policy makers, investors, businesses, practitioners and society at large. Heeding the call for action at the WEFE Nexus Science Advances Conference, WEFE4MED will gather scientists, practitioners, policymakers, investors, local authorities, the media and other stakeholders in a Mediterranean WEFE Nexus Community of Practice (NCoP) to provide convincing practical and scientific evidence of the Nexus benefits as a basis for decision-making in integrated natural resources management.

WEFE4MED Project will foster the adoption of a Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus approach in the Mediterranean through a Nexus Community of Practice (NCoP) to confront the climatic and environmental challenges facing societies and agro-ecological systems. This NCoP will bring together practitioners, scientists, policymakers, civil society, media, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors. The NCoP will convene, share knowledge and build capacities by deploying best practices and science-based policies and innovative solutions inspired by demonstration sites. It will identify a range of representative demonstration cases, valorise them, offer visibility and showcase the benefits of integrated natural resource management for sustainable, climate-resilient development in the Mediterranean. This will increase the impact of the demonstrators and will offer opportunities to share real best practices and bring these in and to the attention of other stakeholders, thus promoting the adoption of WEFE Nexus approach in the Mediterranean.

Beneficiary

All work and conclusions from the project could benefit a wider array of member municipalities.

Main SDGs addressed

ODS 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

ODS 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

ODS 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

ODS 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

ODS 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

ODS 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development