Streamlining a Water-Energy-Food Ecosystems Nexus approach in the region

• 04.12.2018
• Author:Mey Al Sayegh
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BEIRUT : As part of the initiative to facilitate regional dialogue on the incorporation of Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems in national and transboundary water resources management planning, the first "Nexus Roundtable in the MENA and wider Mediterranean” region was held in Beirut under the auspices of the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water, in partnership with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the United Nations Environment Programme / Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP MAP) The Nexus approach aims at moving beyond the traditional sectoral framework to adopt an integrated approach for the water-energy-food sectors, with a view on reconciling their interests as they compete for the same scarce resources. It also seeks to resolve conflicts while respecting environmental constraints as well as human rights, and exploring emerging opportunities. Cooperation between the relevant sectors aims to identify solutions that will foster water-food-energy security and efficiency while reducing impacts and risks on water-dependent ecosystems. This approach starts from the realization that through a traditional fragmented approach, attempting to achieve security in one of these sectors independently without addressing trade-offs with the other two sectors will endanger their sustainability. Also, a Nexus approach serves as a tool towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to fully capture the benefits and synergies under a Nexus approach, the development and management choices in the water-energy-food sectors require enhanced integration on the knowledge, policy, legislative and institutional levels. However, the current and commonly uncoordinated governance settings and policies in the MENA Region constitute an impediment in addressing issues related to the management and security of the Nexus resources at the national and regional levels. Most governments have separate agencies to oversee water, energy, and agricultural food production, and set policies and plan for each sector separately. Dr. Fadi Comair, Director General of Hydraulic and Electric Resources at the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water, suggested developing an action plan to secure our resources and ensure the survival of the Mediterranean people. Comair then called for establishing a regional platform with the help of the Union of the Mediterranean and GWP-MED to guarantee citizens of Mediterranean food, water, and energy security (2.6.7 SDGs), while stressing on two main components to launch the Nexus process. The regional platform will serve as an observatory entity for a database and to follow up and monitor pressures on water, as well as to keep in check excesses of CO2 and the reduction of production of energy through thermal processes. Source :Source: Annahar  3 December 2018.  https://en.annahar.com/article/909536-naya-roula-jouny-a-travel-innovator-with-determination