Looking at the Water-Energy-Food nexus through the lens of Ecosystem Services: a new perspective

Global demand for Water, Energy, and Food (WEF) has risen significantly in recent decades, a trend that is expected to continue. The interconnected nature of WEF systems, along with global change drivers, highlights the need for an integrated resource management approach known as ‘nexus thinking.’ This approach emphasizes the synergies and trade-offs among WEF policies to achieve sustainable outcomes. Accordingly, this perspective paper argues that a truly integrated nexus approach necessitates placing ESs at the center of the WEF nexus framework. It begins by defining ESs and discussing their role within this nexus. Subsequently, it illustrates how implementing nexus thinking could be enhanced and operationalized by incorporating an ESs-based perspective. Finally, it provides recommendations for future steps to foster this integration.