Resource Nexus Methodological Framework: Making the Nexus Operational

The well-established Water Energy Food Nexus, meaning the investigation of the three subsystems as a whole complex of interlinkages and trade-offs has been a revolutionary step towards holistic system thinking. More Nexuses have occurred and have been studied through the last decades, expanding the central WEF triplet. Sim4Nexus has acknowledged the importance of expanding the triplet to a quintet, also including the land uses and the climate change as core components, towards a holistic analysis that targets to climate change mitigation and adaptation actions and resource efficiency. In this work, we present the methodological framework developed and tested on multiple case studies of various particularities and scales. We present an assessment workflow of numerous steps and iterations that includes, among others, the conceptual and bio-physical modelling of the quintet synergies and trade-offs, the exploitation of existing databases and thematic models, the stakeholder mapping and engagement, the policy analysis, the formulation of narratives, the pre-nexus assessment, the workshops, the System Dynamic Modeling, the Science-Policy interface, and the Serious Gaming. The aim of this work is to transfer the experience and lessons learnt of a demanding, trans-disciplinary and intersectoral work and provide a roadmap for future Nexus—not necessarily the specific quintet—analysis efforts.