Given current world population, persistence of global diet, and considerable environmental damage related
thereto, food consumption is a major source of concern for environmental sustainability. In relation to these
issues, Greater Geneva agglomeration outlined several legitimate, albeit potentially contrasting set of objectives
for 2050 in its 2022 political commitment for a sustainable transition: preserving and regenerating local
biodiversity, reducing environmental pressures generated by society, while ensuring good health, equity and
inclusion of all its inhabitants, and contributing to the improvement of world population’s well-being. To
arbitrate between these conflicting pledges requires the use of an accounting system able to integrate them
simultaneously. For this purpose, MuSIASEM accounting approach (Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal
and Ecosystem Metabolism) is applied to the Greater Geneva region and Geneva Canton: it relates information
pertaining to (i) the diet, (ii) the techno-economic performance of the agricultural sector, (iii) environmental
pressures generated by agriculture, (iv) the level of dependence on imports. MuSIASEM allowed to characterize
the region’s food metabolism for a current Swiss diet and a more plant-based diet: with a current Swiss diet,
were Greater Geneva region to internalize all food consumption, it would require considerable increases in the
share of agricultural land and agricultural workers in society. Shifting from an animal to a more plant-based diet
would significantly reduce environmental and social pressures. In addition, viewing Greater Geneva region as
reference political boundary for assessing food security would render the former more environmentally feasible:
thereby making an extension of Geneva Canton’s biodiversity strategy 2030 to Greater Geneva – of protecting
30% of territory for ecological infrastructure – in turn more plausible. This study showed the potential of
MuSIASEM approach in characterizing a region’s food metabolism, yet it could be applied in other domains to
assess a society’s water, energy or human activity metabolism.

How to cite: Folz, A., Lehmann, A., and Giampietro, M.: A tool for governance informed deliberation in Greater Geneva region:impossibility of current circular economy food metabolism, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-21001, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-21001, 2024.

Water scarcity and water stress have become a concern for many countries worldwide, especially to Mediterranean countries like Spain. Which, together with the increase in energy prices, have affected food production and degraded ecosystems. Over the last two decades in Spain, irrigated areas have expanded in the interest of modernizing irrigation systems to cope with increased food consumption and to promote economic development and the maintenance of the rural population. At the same time, managing – rising fertilizer and energy prices and water scarcity have become necessities, but also threatening the natural ecosystem. Until now Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems (WEFE) challenges have been traditionally managed independently, contrary to the international community recommendation of treating them together in a WEFE Nexus framework to address their interrelationships and achieve a balance. Considering this framework, two workshops took place in the Duero Basin in Spain with the stakeholders, from the different WEFE entities, aiming at promoting and co-defining WEFE-Nexus transition actions for addressing the WEFE-Nexus challenges and for improving the local WEFE-Nexus conditions. As a first step, the WEFE-Nexus transition requires active engagement and building trust among WEFE stakeholders and as a second step to involve them in a co-creation process with knowledge’s exchange and mutual learning. Thus, the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) was applied through the RRI Roadmapãä for co-defining WEFE-Nexus transition actions or plan to improve local WEFE-Nexus conditions and identifying knowledge, technical and scientific gaps and how to bridge them to be successful. The first workshop used storytelling and the participatory method of the World Café to actively engage and motivate the stakeholders. The second workshop was performed from an expert point of view and a NEXUS NESS- Serious Game to foster discussion and create awareness on sustainable management practices; it focused on water-energy resource management, agricultural production, and the impact of climate change.

The methodology and the results from both workshops are presented in this paper.

How to cite: Segovia-Cardozo, D. A., Sánchez-Bayo Gonzáles, M., Vallejos Mihotek, M., Schneider, X., and Rodriguez-Sinobas, L.: First steps into Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus Transition in semiarid depopulated regions: A case of study in the Spanish Duero basin. , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-706, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-706, 2024.

The intricate interplay among plant water dynamics, nutritional content, and soil health is pivotal for unravelling the complexities inherent in plant materials, forging a direct link to the intricate web of the water-energy-food nexus. This investigation aims to find more accessible ways of evaluating the interplay between soil characteristics, water use in agriculture, and plant health, contributing crucial insights to sustainable agricultural practices that align with the SDGs 2030 Agenda for zero hunger, better environment, and enhanced human well-being.

Cassava, as a staple crop in many developing countries is the focal point for this study, aiming for proof of a more affordable and accessible way of accessing the impact of water scarcity and nutrient deficiency. This understanding becomes particularly crucial in the development of effective digital technologies tailored to enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices, fostering a balance within the intersection of water, energy, and food systems.

The core objective of this research is to assess the efficacy of Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIRS) in predicting Carbon-13 (δ13C) signatures in cassava, establishing correlations between MIR spectral features and reference C-13 data obtained through Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS). While Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and IRMS have demonstrated acceptable accuracy in modelling C-13 content in plant material, the underexplored potential of Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIRS) holds promise, given its proven prediction potential with soil parameters as well as the small, required sample size which make it even more affordable, accessible, and sustainable. By grounding this investigation in the larger objective of managing the resource use efficiently, the calibration and validation process aims to contribute to the development of a broadly applicable methodology, across geographic boundaries and mediums and enhancing the collective understanding of the interdependencies within the water-energy-food nexus. 

Carbon-13 (δ13C) signatures in cassava offer invaluable insights into water use and transpiration efficiency and with a data-driven decision-making approach, not only informs farmers about optimal irrigation levels but also contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable resource management. Leveraging a dataset comprised of more than 700 cassava plant samples, this study employs Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIRS) to predict δ13C content primarily in leaf material, utilizing Partial Least-Squares Regression (PLSR) to develop a robust model. Preliminary findings indicate that the indirect estimation is possible. The model's prediction performance, assessed through accepted statistical metrics such as R2 and RMSE, sheds light on the potential of MIRS for plant parameter prediction as an indicator of best soil and water management practices.

How to cite: Darboe, S., Vlasimsky, M., Van Laere, J., Dercon, G., Heiling, M., Drapal, M., Perez, L., Augusto Becerra, L., Gomez Selvaraj, M., and Fraser, P.: Predicting  Carbon-13 (δ13C) signatures as a Indicator of Water Use Effciency (WUE) in Cassava using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIRS), EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-5913, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-5913, 2024.

While SDGs have become a common ground to address global sustainability systematically, neither the existing synergies and tradeoffs among the different SDGs nor the magnitude of their compound effects at global versus national scales are well understood. Although introducing two indices of Spillover Index and Global Commons Stewardship (GCS) shed light on these issues, the capability of these widely agreed SDGs in fulfilling every nation's needs and dedication to protecting global sustainability is yet questionable. The SDGs' shortcomings are most evident when there are interdependencies and contradictory requirements among SDGs, becoming critical when SDGs at the national level protect one country at the expense of another one. The impact of achieving food security (often in water rich countries) through the import of agricultural products from their trade partner countries (often in water scarce countries) is one of the examples.

Here we aim to understand whether and how lacking a global nexus perspective that takes into account the synergies and tradeoffs among the different SDGs can counteract other nations and SDGs. We investigate the connection between SDG 2 and 6 in the context of water and food security; particularly, the impact of food security strategies of an importing country on the water security of its trade partner countries. The findings present that although neglecting the tight links between SDGs of 2 and 6 may have a positive sectoral effect at a country level, it fails global sustainability as it impacts the involved countries unevenly and often antipodally. it emphasizes the need for a revision of SDG2, as it inadequately captures the perspective of food security from the standpoint of hunger. This study advocates for inclusion of  NEXUS and system thinking in the reformulation of the SDGs, their targets, and the associated indicators.

How to cite: Dehnavi, S., Nouri, H., Abbasi, N., and Brungnach, M.: Assessing the capability of SDGs in achieving sustainable development from Nexus and global perspectives concerning water-food security, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12900, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12900, 2024.

Water stress, together with rising energy prices, have become a major concern worldwide, especially for food production (the major water consumer) that leads to ecosystem degradation in arid and semiarid countries such as Spain. The Spanish irrigated area ​​ has been continuously expanding and modernizing in response to the food demant increase and to promote economic development and support the rural areas which are aspects generally considered on an individual basis, against the advice of the international community to achieve a balance in  Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus. But also, it is crucial to consider stakeholders' perspectives, understand their experiences and opinions to work together and find more realistic and effective solutions. Participatory modeling, such as Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM), is frequently used, with satisfactory results, within the WEFE Nexus context to understand the perception of stakeholders for decision making.

This work aims to analyze the perceptions of various stakeholders (researchers, policymakers, environmental groups, farmers' associations, food retailers, consumer organizations, water treatment companies, and water reuse experts) regarding interactions in variables related to the four sectors of the WEFE nexus in the Duero River basin. Understanding the perception of the stakeholders about these topics can help to improve policy, decision making and to enhance scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer in the fields related to the WEFE Nexus.

To identify the concepts, three workshops were conducted with 14 participants from different sectors related to WEFE NEXUS areas.  The workshop accomplished  different activities with the purpose of highlighting the main ideas about WEFE in a participative way, that were reinforced in the following workshop, to make sure that we gather the real perception of the stakeholders without leaving any of them aside. As a result, 30 concepts have been identified, simplified and used to develop a FCM, in which stakeholders will identify relations between them, assigning weights to these relationships correlations based on their own perception. Then, the final FCM will be analyzed by Metal Modeler program, which will allow to understand interconnections among variables according to the stakeholders´ perception and study future scenarios obtained as a result of performed workshops. Scenario analysis allows to explore the intricate relationships that exist within a system, and to examine how changes in one variable can influence the dynamics of the entire system. Creating narrative pathways from plausible future developments helps decision-makers assess the potential impact of policies from the perspective of multidisciplinary stakeholders.

How to cite: Sanchez-Revuelta, M., A. Segovia-Cardozo, D., Schneider, X., and Rodriguez-Sinobas, L.: A Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping approach to support WEFE NEXUS policies and decision-making, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12977, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12977, 2024.

Given the decrease in water availability for agriculture caused by climate change (CC) in Mediterranean environments, it is necessary to use water efficiently in food production. As stated in the PNACC (National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change), knowing the water demand for agricultural use before and after adaptation to CC is essential. In turn, for this, it is necessary to optimize the monitoring of the basins. To this end, AGUAGRADA proposes a monitoring and modeling system at the sub-basin scale and scalable to higher order basins, capable of quantifying the water demand for agricultural use under different climate, management scenarios (compatible with the CAP), and socio-economic and economic conditions of policies. The results of present and future water demands are expressed in PNACC indicators since the project aims to contribute directly to its implementation.
The general objective of this project is to develop and apply a method for evaluating water demand for agricultural use applicable at the sub-basin and basin scale before and after adaptation to climate change (CC). To achieve this, the following specific objectives are defined:

• Design an optimal methodology for monitoring water demand for agricultural use applicable at the sub-basin and basin scale using PNACC indicators, replicable and scalable to other regions and even at the national level.
• Co-create with stakeholders/farmers the selection of agricultural practices and CC adaptation measures to optimize water demand for agricultural use at the sub-basin and basin scale and ensure environmental and socio-economic sustainability. Analyze possible incentives for their inclusion in eco-regimes or CAP agri-environmental programs and study the best implementation routes (multidisciplinary approach).
• Analyze water demand for agricultural use in the future without and with climate change adaptation.
  The actions as the advances achieved in this project will be explained.

Acknowledgements:
Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, a través de la Convocatoria de subvenciones para la realización de proyectos que contribuyan a implementar el Plan Nacional de Adaptación al Cambio Climático (2021-2030) (CBIO230220C063)

How to cite: Jimenez-Aguirre, M., Galea, C., Garde-Cabellos, S., Ribas-Tabares, D., Soriano, B., Esteve-Bengoechea, P., Blanco-Gutierrez, I., Lisazo, J., Díaz-Ambrona, C. H., Pérez, D., Rodriguez-Sinobas, L., Ruiz-Ramos, M., Bardají, I., and Tarquis, A. M.: Evaluating the demand for water for agricultural use for adaptation to climate change at the subbasin level (AGUAGRADA), EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17756, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17756, 2024.

Economic, societal and environmental security are interdependently related to the availability and fair access to natural resources, water, land, food and energy. All four elements (water, food, energy and ecosystems) are 1) highly dependent on each other, 2) crucial for human well-being, and 3) impacting social cohesion and source of geopolitical conflicts. In the Mediterranean region the water scarcity and land degradation do not match sound and sustainable agricultural practices and often the protection of ecosystems is in conflict with economic growth instead of being safeguarded for improving water sources. NEXUS-NESS interlinks consolidated Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus data, knowledge and tools and a three-fold Ecosystem component value (i.e. Environment, Economy and Engagement) to produce a comprehensive WEFE Nexus Service (NNS). State of the art biophysical models, WATNEEDS and FREEWAT, are employed to provide quantitative metrics and geospatial distribution of WEFE nexus parameters and resource-risk scenarios with varying climate, land, crop, energy and socio-environmental variables. The NNS is an analytical geo-service supporting the transferring to Nexus stakeholders and operators of WEFE Nexus models, scenarios and indicators for understanding the benefits of Nexus best practices. The NEXUS-NESS project, funded by Horizon 2020 PRIMA programme, started in 2021 and is ending in 2024, is achieving the following three main objectives:
1) Co-Produce WEFE Nexus management plans for fair and sustainable allocation of resources by applying the NNS into real case conditions through the four Multi-Actor diverse NEXUS Ecosystem Labs (NELs);
2) Operationalize the adoption of the WEFE Nexus by co-defining short to long-term resource management plans and hands-on guidance through application, validation and demonstration actions in the four NELs
3) Enable mindset change for the effective adoption of WEFE Nexus through the implementation of Innovation Ecosystems of private sector, academic, public authorities and citizens in the 4 NELs through the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Roadmap and the six RRI dimensions (public engagement, open science, science education, gender issues, ethics and institutional change through governance).
To achieve these three main objectives, the NEXUS-NESS consortium has specified 4 NELs where multi-actors (stakeholders, private sector, public authorities, academia and citizens) will be engaged in a Living Lab setting by applying the RRI Roadmap. The multi-actors will be identified, motivated and engaged to frame a new WEFE-Nexus vision for their common socio-economic-ecosystem situation, co-design and co-construct WEFE-Nexus management plans and solutions, apply these, measure them, adjust them and intensify them. The NEXUS-NESS 4 NELS are:
1) Coastal Tuscany, Italy: focusing on minimization of groundwater extraction and salinization through non-conventional irrigation via consortia and natural ponds as bioreactors; 2)Rio Daja, Spain: improve agroecosystem and rural life of viticulture and agriculture with improved water-energy use during irrigation. 3) Matrouh Coastal area, Egypt: reduce saline brackish groundwater, increase cultivation through responsible irrigation and apply the WEFE Nexus approach for increasing crop yields.
4) Oued Jir Watershed of Gabes, Tunisia: intensify sustainable agriculture by balancing efficient use of natural resources through novel irrigation and land management by educating the local population of the highly arid area.

How to cite: Nardi, F. and the NEXUS-NESS Consortium: PRIMA NEXUS-NESS: Operationalizing transdisciplinary, stakeholder engagement and biophysical models for co-demonstrating the multiple social, economic and environmental benefits of WEFE Nexus approaches in four Euromed Nexus Ecosystem Labs, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-22567, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-22567, 2024.

The study on Digital Twins (DT) in South Africa emphasizes DT's role in enhancing the efficiency of management and governance within the Water-Energy-Food nexus. By integrating data across energy, agriculture, and water sectors, DT provides a more cohesive and informed approach to decision-making where various stakeholders with multiple interests are involved. This integration enables streamlined governance processes and optimal resource utilization. Currently, governance in South Africa's water, energy, and food sectors is characterized by a mix of state and private involvement. The energy sector is overseen by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and includes state-owned entities, alongside private independent power producers and regulatory bodies. In agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development plays a key role, with additional input from various agricultural bodies and NGOs. Water rights are state-owned, managed by the Department of Water and Sanitation, and regulated through licenses, with local management by water boards and municipalities. The land is a mix of private and state ownership, with a focus on agricultural development and reform. By understanding the priorities and influences of different groups, anticipating conflicts, and fostering cooperation, through DTs, we can ensure that initiatives for environmental conservation are more widely successful. 

How to cite: Ardakanian, A., Saeed, N., Moyo, H., and Mudzielwana, R.: The study on Digital Twins in Managing Water-Energy-Food Sectors in South Africa , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-10280, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10280, 2024.

Irrigation causes serious water stress in a wide range of areas around the world. It remains unknown whether and to what extent global water stress can be alleviated by the sustainable use of water resources for irrigation. Here, we delineated a new distribution of global irrigated croplands via strict conservation of available water resources for crop irrigation using an internally consistent model framework. Then, we compared the differences in global water stress under the conditions of current and re-delineated irrigated croplands, respectively. We demonstrated that irrigation on the re-delineated irrigated croplands can largely alleviate global water stress, particularly for areas currently facing high or very high water stress. The results also indicated that irrigated cropland re-delineation would have a limited negative impact on the production of 4 major crops of maize, wheat, rice, and soybean. Our findings highlight importance of sustainable irrigation water management for food production and its potential benefits for alleviating water stress.

How to cite: Ai, Z., Hanasaki, N., Li, F., and Zhao, X.: Sustainable Irrigation is Promising for Alleviating Global Water Stress, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-2345, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2345, 2024.

This paper aims to provide insights on potential strategies for a sustainable energy transition amidst market fluctuations. We analyze the impact of PV adoption on electricity consumption during a volatile price time span, leveraging high-frequency consumption data of over 10,000 households in Northern Italy during the period of the 2022 energy crisis. Our findings reveal that PV adoption reduces electricity consumption responsiveness during extreme price and temperature events, enhancing energy security and affordability. Also, PV uptake effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions deriving from electricity consumption in the residential sector. Based on estimated demand, we measure changes in consumer surplus loss, highlighting substantial benefits from PV adoption: the change in the annual consumer welfare due to the 2022 price increase is around minus 300 euros for the median consumer with no PV and minus 133 euros when PV is adopted by a comparable median household. 

This study exploits high-frequency data of households residing in the municipality of Brescia between 2021-2022 to infer the impact of PV adoption and the influence of temperatures on grid electricity consumption, as well as to detect potential differences in price elasticity among different consumption groups and seasons. We find that adopting PV systems significantly reduces grid consumption: by 75% on average and by as much as 100% during sunny hours and warmer seasons. Exploiting the exogenous Russia-Ukraine price shock, we find that households who adopt solar PV are more likely to better manage increased temperatures at higher electricity price levels and price fluctuations. Furthermore, we find that "small" consumers can cope worse with high temperatures and are more sensitive to electricity-prices compared to "medium" and "large" consumers, highlighting electricity as a relevant source of inequality.

How to cite: Piazza, L., Colelli, F. P., De Cian, E., and Pasut, W.: Toward Net Zero in the midst of the Energy and Climate Crises: the Response of Residential Photovoltaic Systems , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4312, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4312, 2024.

Gender inequality and climate change are two major challenges currently confronting the human species. This collaborative project between the Red Cross in Catalonia in collaboration with the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation and the Center for Climate Change (C3) at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Spain, presents a comprehensive summary of the analysis of climate change impacts in diverse intervention countries. The study offers a global perspective on climate change trends, focusing on temperature variations, greenhouse gas concentrations, oceanic changes, cryosphere dynamics, precipitation patterns and, extreme climatic events.

Moving from the global to the regional scale, the report highlights the specific impacts on ecosystems, food systems, hydrological systems, sea levels, and public health. Special attention is given to localized effects in Catalonia, such as wildfires, floods, and water resource challenges.

 The project then explores the nuanced intersection of gender and climate change, emphasizing differentiated impacts and vulnerabilities across demographic groups. An analysis of climate vulnerability evolution with a gender lens includes an examination of international, national, and regional policies and reports.

 Differentiated gender impacts are illustrated through case studies in Guatemala, Colombia, Sahara (Africa), Mozambique (Africa), Afghanistan (Asia), and Iran (Asia). Each case study provides insights into the general context, the intersection of climate change and gender, energy poverty challenges, and the governance and participation of women in climate-related initiatives.

 To ground the analysis in empirical data, the study incorporates an in-depth analysis of the "En Moviment" program's data, covering socio-demographic aspects, climate change perceptions, governance structures, extreme weather events, and access to energy. The abstract concludes with comprehensive insights and recommendations, offering a nuanced understanding of the gendered dimensions of climate change impacts and responses in diverse geographical contexts, suitable for presentation at a congress.

The study delves into the intricate relationship between climate change and gender inequality, underscoring their global significance. The research emphasizes the urgent need for an interdisciplinary approach, exploring how human-induced climate change has escalated atmospheric CO2 levels, altered temperature patterns, and impacted ecosystems. Women, constituting the majority in vulnerable populations, face disproportionate vulnerabilities, exacerbated by gender-based disparities in decision-making, access to resources, and climate-induced poverty. Specific case studies in Catalonia and diverse global regions reveal nuanced gendered impacts, highlighting the crucial role of women in adaptation and mitigation efforts. The study concludes that addressing climate change requires a profound understanding of gender dynamics, advocating for inclusive responses that prioritize gender equality as a cornerstone for building a sustainable and just future.

How to cite: Sigro, J., Cisneros, M., Olano, J., Boqué-Ciurana, A., Cimolai, C., Pastor-Diaz-de-Mera, J., and Vidal-Bibiloni, C.: Gender and Climate Change, Analysis in Various Red Cross Intervention Countries, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17304, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17304, 2024.

Natural resources are fundamental for socioeconomic development and sustainable development. However, our understanding on the dynamic connections of water resources, energy and cropland still remains unclear. This study developed a framework covering multi-sectoral and multi-product water-carbon-cropland nexus, identifying key areas for water, energy and cropland conservation by considering both the resource utilization efficiency and connections between provinces. The new framework revealed that the utilization efficiencies of the three resources improved from 2007 to 2017 in China, with the average values of the direct, indirect, and total coefficients of virtual water consumption, embodied carbon emmisions and virtual cropland use decreasing by 63.3%, 40.6% and 59.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, the inter-provincial connections of water-carbon-cropland nexus have weakened, with a downward trend of pull coefficients. Gansu, Ningxia, and Xinjiang were typical regions with high consumption in water, energy and cropland, with the average value of the total coefficients of the three resources nearly twice the national average. Xinjiang, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia were regions with weak water-energy-cropland connections, and their average pulling coefficient was about 36% of national average. Under the "dual circulation" development pattern of China, it’s necessary to improve resource utilization efficiency in the future by promoting economic cooperation between regions with strong connections and weak connections, and promoting the efficient utilization of resources for regions (e.g., Xinjiang and Gansu) under the help of developed regions (e.g., Beijing and Shanghai). This framework can further capture the food-energy-water nexus (FEW nexus) at urban, provincial and even global scales, and can be used as an important tool to identify the process of multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs 2, 6, 7 and 12).

How to cite: Liu, Z., Zheng, D., Duan, X., Huang, Q., and Zhang, S.: Dynamics of the water-energy-cropland nexus in China from 2007 to 2017: Implications for the Dual Circulation Strategy, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4559, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4559, 2024.

In our research, we investigate the integration of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus into a unified system and claim it is a critical step in achieving food security, while minimizing environmental degradation. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of these essential resources and highlights the importance of a holistic and modern strategy in addressing global sustainability challenges. We facilitate this integration through Digital Twins (DTs), offering a virtual representation of this nexus. A critical step in developing a WEF Nexus DT is the collection of relevant data. Our project demonstrates that a hybrid approach is essential to gather comprehensive data for an effective WEF DT model. While traditional methods remain invaluable, they need to be combined with state-of-the-art technology. For instance, water quality, a key parameter in the WEF DT, is currently best assessed through direct sampling rather than IoT sensors or satellite data. Equally, energy parameters can be effectively monitored via satellite, and food production data can be accurately collected using IoT sensors. This hybrid data collection framework underscores the need for a multi-faceted approach, integrating both conventional and advanced technologies, to build a robust and reliable WEF Nexus DT.

How to cite: Saeed, N., Ardakanian, A., Choe Peng, L., and Hui Weng, G.: Hybrid Framework for Water-Energy-Food Nexus Digital Twin Data Collection , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9934, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9934, 2024.

Lakes in tropical regions around the world suffer from the infestation of water hyacinth. Its proliferation is attributable to the influx of nutrient-rich waters, as rivers feeding the lakes are polluted with wastewater and run-off of fertilizer and manure from surrounding agricultural fields and husbandry within the catchment. The weed clogs waterways and intakes and affects aquatic life, water availability, transportation, fishing, irrigation, and tourism. Water hyacinth infestation has implications for human health, as it may facilitate the spread of water-related diseases. While water hyacinth may pose health risks, they have the potential to benefit human livelihoods when exploited for wastewater treatment, as fertilizer, for biofuel production or, when made into handicrafts, as a source of income.

A sustainable solution to these issues tackles both water quality deterioration and water hyacinth infestation, and “uses” water hyacinth instead of only attempting to “lose” them.  We present a research project that identifies such solutions, applicable and appropriate within the local and cultural context of our study region, Lake Chivero, the main source of drinking water to Harare. The project consists of three main pillars: (1) performing systematic studies of causes and effects of water hyacinth spread based on satellite and empirical data; (2) scientifically investigating water hyacinth exploitation methods, and (3) engaging with stakeholders to co-develop strategies to address the challenges of water quality and water hyacinth. The project’s impacts will be a more healthy and resilient lake ecosystem, improved wellbeing of people depending on the lake, and more resilient communities at Lake Chivero and other lakes in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will thereby contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to health (SDG 3), drinking water (SDG 6), and sustainable communities (SDG 11). Moreover, the project is in line with the South African National Development Plan 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063.

How to cite: Penning de Vries, M., Dube, T., Münch, F., Ncube, M., Anthonj, C., De Senerpont Domis, L., Lens, P., Marambanyika, T., Nondo, N., Osei, F., Shoko, C., and van der Wal, D.: Water hyacinths: Use them or lose them? A holistic approach to a multi-faceted problem, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-7799, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-7799, 2024.

This study presents an integrated water-energy nexus analysis through the dynamic simulation of a combined hydro-thermal power plant, focusing on a case study within the water-scarce region of Iran. The investigation aims to assess the mutual interactions between water resources and energy production, providing valuable insights for sustainable water and energy management practices. The simulation model incorporates system dynamics to capture the complex feedback loops between water availability, energy demand, and the operation of the power plant. The power plant is modeled as a combined hydro-thermal system, where water availability influences both hydroelectric and thermal power generation. The system's response to water availability is further modulated by feedback loops that consider the dynamics of water and energy demand. In the context of the Iranian water plant case study, the simulation is executed over 100-time steps to analyze the dynamic behavior of the system. The water supply response to water availability is characterized by a multiplier, and the energy supply response is modulated by a similar multiplier, reflecting the inherent connection between water and energy in the power generation process. Additionally, the thermal efficiency of the power plant is considered in the simulation to account for the impact of water availability on thermal power generation. The results of the simulation are visually represented through a heat map, providing a comprehensive overview of the temporal evolution of water demand, water supply, and energy supply. The custom colormap enhances visualization, enabling a clear interpretation of the interdependencies within the water-energy nexus [1]. The numerical results derived from the simulation offer valuable insights into the sustainable operation of the combined hydro-thermal power plant. The analysis highlights the importance of considering water availability in energy production decisions, showcasing the impact on both hydroelectric and thermal power generation. Furthermore, the simulation provides quantitative assessments of water shortage and energy shortfall, aiding in the identification of critical time periods and informing strategies for resource allocation and infrastructure planning [2]. By focusing on the Iranian context, where water scarcity is a prevalent concern, this study contributes to the development of region-specific water and energy policies. The findings underscore the need for integrated water and energy management strategies to address the challenges posed by changing water availability patterns and growing energy demands [3]. The presented simulation framework can serve as a valuable tool for policymakers and researchers in optimizing the operation of similar water-energy systems in arid regions, fostering sustainable development in the face of increasing water and energy challenges.

Keywords: Water-Energy Nexus; Power Plants; Programming; Sustainability; Performance assessment

How to cite: siamaki, M., Gheibi, M., Ardakanian, A., Waclawek, S., and Behzadian, K.: Integrated Water-Energy Nexus Analysis: Dynamic Simulation of a Combined Hydro-Thermal Power Plant , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-22126, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-22126, 2024.