Urban Nexus Science for Future Cities: Focus on the Energy-Water-Food-X Nexus

• Published in: Current sustainable/renewable energy reports. 2017-09, Vol.4 (3), p.173-179
• Main Authors: Sperling, Joshua B., Berke, Philip R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Decision making; Economics and Management; Energy; Energy (R Mohtar; ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY; Energy Policy; Energy Storage; Environmental Science and Engineering; Food; Hazard mitigation; Health hazards; Health risks; Information flow; Integration; Interactive systems; Land use; Land use management; Nexus of Food; Renewable and Green Energy; Section Editor; Sustainability; Topical Collection on Nexus of Food; Urban areas; urban nexus science; Urban sprawl; Water; water-energy-food systems
• ISSN: 2196-3010; 2196-3010
• DOI: 10.1007/s40518-017-0085-1

Purpose of Review Rapid urban expansion of the world’s cities is placing unprecedented demands on the energy, water, food, and other (X) systems (e.g., mobility) that each offer multiple life-supporting services. Coordination that considers inter-sectoral connections among these urban systems and services remains nascent in practice, yet are critical to the future well-being, resource/operational efficiency, and resilience of urban areas. This paper therefore proposes an applied “urban nexus science” framework to identify integrated and synergistic pathways toward achieving urban sustainability. Recent Findings The design, planning, and operation of urban W-E-F systems can benefit from integrated analyses to accelerate infrastructure, land use, and hazard mitigation planning and decision-making. New knowledge quantifying the key effects of W-E-F systems designed in isolation versus an increasingly integrated systems, especially when exposed to hazards, health risks, or extreme events, are a critical need. Summary Interactive system modeling and participatory technologies are needed to support stakeholder engagement and two-way (and multi-directional) information flow, for exploring outcomes of alternative solutions for integrating W-E-F sectors. To support such important efforts, research is needed to fill critical gaps in data, identify tradeoffs, and develop synergistic solutions that measure sustainability co-benefits based on different levels of urban integration among W-E-F systems and services.