Exploring a Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus Approach to Governance: A Case Study of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa

Lourens Swart (), Mark Swilling and Amanda Gcanga
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Lourens Swart: Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Mark Swilling: Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Amanda Gcanga: World Resources Institute, Gabon Street, Addis Ababa 1165, Ethiopia

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus is recognised globally as a framework for sustainable resource management and a potential tool for building resilient social-ecological systems (SES). To verify this, we used a transdisciplinary approach to explore how the WEF nexus approach is understood theoretically and practically. The analysis indicated a disparity in how the WEF nexus framework is understood and conceptualised in theory, and the practical implementation of the framework. Given this, the study found it challenging to validate the WEF nexus as a supporting tool for building SES resilience. In line with this, this study argues for a deeper exploration of the practical implementation of the WEF nexus framework in planning, governance and social processes. As such, the study analysed the governance and management systems of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (V&A), a precinct in Cape Town that adopted the WEF nexus approach for sustainable management of water, energy, food and waste resources. Using the analysis of V&A Waterfront’s management practices—including the use of the Global Carbon Exchange (GCX) system—from a practical, social and governance perspective, the aim was to understand whether a bridge between WEF nexus theory and governance practice impacts the practical ability to govern for SES resilience. Findings suggest that the nexus governance approach at the V&A Waterfront has implications that strengthen the capacity to govern for SES resilience in the V&A Waterfront context. The conclusion is then made that the nexus governance approach also strengthens the capacity to govern for SES resilience in the Cape Town context. Results also suggest the most crucial element for the success of the nexus governance approach is a material flow analysis (MFA)-based decision support system (DSS) exemplified by GCX Data Analytics Sustainability Hub (DASH-).

Keywords: water–energy–food (WEF) nexus; social-ecological system (SES) resilience; material flow analysis (MFA); decision support system (DSS); nexus governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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