Global Forum on Environment: New Perspectives on the Water-Energy-Food-Nexus – OCDE

Background

Achieving water, energy and food security for all is one of the greatest challenges facing humankind. Already today, nearly one billion people lack access to safe drinking water, one billion people suffer from hunger and 2.5 billion people do not have access to modern forms of energy. These challenges will intensify in the future. The OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 projects that global demand for energy and water will increase by 80% and 55% by 2050 respectively.  In addition, the FAO estimates a 60% increase in food demand over the same period.  Population growth, economic development and climate change will accelerate competition for food, water and energy.

This pressure on resources creates growing concerns regarding the availability, accessibility, distribution and sustainability of water, food, and energy for all. These constraints could jeopardise the fundamental development goals of increased human well-being, economic development and poverty eradication. In the run-up to Rio+20, the Bonn 2011 Nexus Conference contributed to a better understanding of the interdependencies between the water, energy and food security and highlighted the need for more systemic thinking to identify synergies and trade-offs between different sectors, interest groups and development goals. There is a clear need to move away from a “silo” approach to a more integrated policy-making in these areas.  Improving the alignment of policy goals can help countries to better manage the risks of water, energy and food scarcity while enhancing resilience in the face of increasing pressures from global trends. 

Objective

The forum focused on four areas that can contribute to more integrated policy making. Topics for discussion included the need to understand long-term impacts of the nexus on growth; ways to improve coherence between national, regional and local planning and priorities; the importance of promoting private sector investment in the nexus; and how to mainstream the nexus into the broader development agenda, particularly in the context of post-2015 discussions. The Forum opened with a high-level meeting of the Global Dialogue on Water Security and Sustainable Growth.

Target audience

• High-level and senior government officials from OECD and non-OECD countries
• Business leaders
• Private and long-term investors
• Leaders of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other civil society organisations
• Representatives of intergovernmental organisations
• Representatives of international financial institutions and donor agencies
• Leading experts in the water, energy and food sectors

Agricultural Policies and Support

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Investment in Agriculture  

Environment and Development

Green Growth and Sustainable Development

OECD CIRCLE (Costs of Inaction and Resource scarcity: Consequences for Long-term Economic Growth) Project

Water Governance

Water Security

Policy Guidance for Investment in Clean Energy Infrastructure

IEA Water for Energy

IEA Nexus Forum on Climate-Energy Security Nexus: Water and Energy

IEA Nexus Forum on Climate-Energy Security Nexus: Enhancing Energy Sector Resilience

Should you require further information or assistance, please contact the Forum team: nexus@oecd.org

Kate Eklin: +33 1 45 24 98 62
Ruth Catts-Lemaire: +33 1 45 24 64 12
Conference Centre: +33 1 45 24 82 00 

The OECD Global Forum on  Environment (GFENV) is an event that brings together international experts from member and non-member economies to share experiences and explore common policy issues. The Forum will gather a broad range of senior policy experts, private sector leaders and financiers in the water, energy and food sectors to debate and discuss how water, food and energy securities compete on the ground; and explore how countries can overcome the challenges in balancing different and growing needs.