Towards a Low-Carbon Economy: A Nexus-Oriented Policy Coherence Analysis in Greece

Chrysaida-Aliki Papadopoulou, Maria P. Papadopoulou, Chrysi Laspidou, Stefania Munaretto and Floor Brouwer
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Chrysaida-Aliki Papadopoulou: Laboratory of Physical Geography and Environmental Impacts, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, GR-15780 Athens, Greece
Maria P. Papadopoulou: Laboratory of Physical Geography and Environmental Impacts, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, GR-15780 Athens, Greece
Chrysi Laspidou: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, GR-38334 Volos, Greece
Stefania Munaretto: Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), 2500 GH The Hague, The Netherlands
Floor Brouwer: Wageningen Economic Research, 2595 BM Den Haag, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-22

Abstract: The sustainable management of natural resources under climate change conditions is a critical research issue. Among the many approaches emerged in recent times, the so-called ‘nexus approach’ is gaining traction in academic and policy circles. The nexus approach presupposes the analysis of bio-physical, socio-economic and policy interlinkages among sectors (e.g., water, energy, food) for the identification of integrated solutions and the support of policy decisions. Ultimately, the nexus approach aims to identify synergies and trade-offs among the nexus dimensions. Concerning policy, the nexus approach focuses on policy coherence, i.e., the systematic identification and management of trade-offs and synergies between policies across sectors. This paper investigates the coherence between policies on the water-land-energy-food-climate nexus in Greece. The systematic analysis of policy documents led to the elicitation of nexus-related policy objectives and instruments. Then, the coherence among objectives and between objectives and instruments was assessed using the methodology proposed by Nilsson et al. A stakeholder (trans-disciplinary) orientation was adopted and the need to incorporate stakeholders’ recommendations as to policy coherence assessment was highlighted. Overall, the findings revealed that climate and food/agricultural policies represent critical future priorities in Greece by stimulating progress in other nexus-related policies (energy, water, land policies) and being positively influenced by them.

Keywords: policy analysis; policy coherence; nexus governance; policy objectives; policy instruments; stakeholder recommendations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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