Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus
The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus represents a critical framework for sustainable development, ensuring human survival and ecological balance amidst increasing resource pressures from population growth, urbanisation, climate change, and economic development. While many models aim to address this nex...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Systems Thinking in Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jstinp.um.ac.ir/article_46280_868e3f12ba7b5bf74e301ab02c6ef99d.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849317200860545024 |
|---|---|
| author | Samira Ebrahimi Mohammad Reza Fathi Meisam Shahbazi |
| author_facet | Samira Ebrahimi Mohammad Reza Fathi Meisam Shahbazi |
| author_sort | Samira Ebrahimi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus represents a critical framework for sustainable development, ensuring human survival and ecological balance amidst increasing resource pressures from population growth, urbanisation, climate change, and economic development. While many models aim to address this nexus, they often focus narrowly on specific sectors rather than adopting a comprehensive, holistic perspective. This study employs Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH), a reflective and emancipatory approach, to examine the systemic challenges and underlying assumptions within the WEF nexus in Iran. The research involved 25 experts from diverse fields—energy (n=6), water (n=5), food (n=4), academia (n=6), and systems (n=4)—selected through purposive sampling to ensure diverse perspectives. Using boundary critique, the study examines current realities (“is” states) and ideal visions (“ought” states) through twelve boundary questions that assess sources of motivation, power, knowledge, and legitimacy. Findings reveal fragmented decision-making structures, short-term planning approaches, and insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration as significant obstacles to sustainable resource management. While decision-making authority is concentrated in isolated governmental sectors, the study highlights the need for integrated management frameworks that align with long-term sustainability goals, emphasising public welfare, environmental preservation, and inclusivity. Additionally, the research uncovers a gap in leveraging relevant expertise, with reliance on politically influenced appointments over merit-based inclusions. The study advocates for systemic reforms, including interdisciplinary stakeholder engagement, the establishment of a unified governance body for the WEF nexus, legislative adaptations, and the integration of renewable energy and sustainable agricultural practices. These strategies aim to shift decision-making from short-term political gains to fostering resilience and equity for current and future generations. By addressing the socio-political, technical, and ecological dimensions of the WEF nexus, this research provides policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers with actionable insights, contributing to a more integrated and sustainable approach to resource management in Iran. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a322cf4dffa4c9f91e837136e0cd3f7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2980-9460 2821-1669 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Ferdowsi University of Mashhad |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Systems Thinking in Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a322cf4dffa4c9f91e837136e0cd3f72025-08-20T03:51:18ZengFerdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Systems Thinking in Practice2980-94602821-16692025-06-01428210810.22067/jstinp.2025.91072.113046280Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food NexusSamira Ebrahimi0Mohammad Reza Fathi1Meisam Shahbazi2Department of Industrial Management and Technology, Faculty of Management and Accounting, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Iran.Department of Industrial Management and Technology, Faculty of Management and Accounting, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Iran.Department of Industrial Management and Technology, Faculty of Management and Accounting, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Iran.The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus represents a critical framework for sustainable development, ensuring human survival and ecological balance amidst increasing resource pressures from population growth, urbanisation, climate change, and economic development. While many models aim to address this nexus, they often focus narrowly on specific sectors rather than adopting a comprehensive, holistic perspective. This study employs Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH), a reflective and emancipatory approach, to examine the systemic challenges and underlying assumptions within the WEF nexus in Iran. The research involved 25 experts from diverse fields—energy (n=6), water (n=5), food (n=4), academia (n=6), and systems (n=4)—selected through purposive sampling to ensure diverse perspectives. Using boundary critique, the study examines current realities (“is” states) and ideal visions (“ought” states) through twelve boundary questions that assess sources of motivation, power, knowledge, and legitimacy. Findings reveal fragmented decision-making structures, short-term planning approaches, and insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration as significant obstacles to sustainable resource management. While decision-making authority is concentrated in isolated governmental sectors, the study highlights the need for integrated management frameworks that align with long-term sustainability goals, emphasising public welfare, environmental preservation, and inclusivity. Additionally, the research uncovers a gap in leveraging relevant expertise, with reliance on politically influenced appointments over merit-based inclusions. The study advocates for systemic reforms, including interdisciplinary stakeholder engagement, the establishment of a unified governance body for the WEF nexus, legislative adaptations, and the integration of renewable energy and sustainable agricultural practices. These strategies aim to shift decision-making from short-term political gains to fostering resilience and equity for current and future generations. By addressing the socio-political, technical, and ecological dimensions of the WEF nexus, this research provides policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers with actionable insights, contributing to a more integrated and sustainable approach to resource management in Iran.https://jstinp.um.ac.ir/article_46280_868e3f12ba7b5bf74e301ab02c6ef99d.pdfalternative roofingroof market analysissustainabilitysystem dynamicsmulti-criteria decision making |
| spellingShingle | Samira Ebrahimi Mohammad Reza Fathi Meisam Shahbazi Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus Journal of Systems Thinking in Practice alternative roofing roof market analysis sustainability system dynamics multi-criteria decision making |
| title | Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus |
| title_full | Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus |
| title_fullStr | Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus |
| title_short | Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus |
| title_sort | critical systems heuristics for sustainable management of iran s water energy food nexus |
| topic | alternative roofing roof market analysis sustainability system dynamics multi-criteria decision making |
| url | https://jstinp.um.ac.ir/article_46280_868e3f12ba7b5bf74e301ab02c6ef99d.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samiraebrahimi criticalsystemsheuristicsforsustainablemanagementofiranswaterenergyfoodnexus AT mohammadrezafathi criticalsystemsheuristicsforsustainablemanagementofiranswaterenergyfoodnexus AT meisamshahbazi criticalsystemsheuristicsforsustainablemanagementofiranswaterenergyfoodnexus |