Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian Cases

ABSTRACT The challenge of providing water, energy, food, and managing the environment (WEFEN) is widely recognized as a significant barrier to global advancement in light of the increasing population. The interconnections among water, energy, food, and the environment constitute a comprehensive fram...

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Main Authors: Rahim Zahedi, Alireza Aslani, Hossein Yousefi, Younes Noorollahi, Fatemeh Razi Astaraei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Energy Science & Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1950
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author Rahim Zahedi
Alireza Aslani
Hossein Yousefi
Younes Noorollahi
Fatemeh Razi Astaraei
author_facet Rahim Zahedi
Alireza Aslani
Hossein Yousefi
Younes Noorollahi
Fatemeh Razi Astaraei
author_sort Rahim Zahedi
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The challenge of providing water, energy, food, and managing the environment (WEFEN) is widely recognized as a significant barrier to global advancement in light of the increasing population. The interconnections among water, energy, food, and the environment constitute a comprehensive framework for achieving sustainability. Based on projections, it is anticipated that the global community will encounter crises pertaining to water, energy, food, and the environment in the foreseeable future. The objective of this paper is to analyze global research endeavors pertaining to the interconnections among water, energy, food, and the environment. Additionally, it aims to address the challenges and imperatives of investigating this nexus within the context of the world. This framework aims to achieve a harmonious equilibrium by considering the diverse objectives, interests, and requirements of both human societies and the natural environment. The correlation established by WEFEN has the potential to provide valuable insights for informing future global sustainable development policies in relation to environmental and water crises. This review study critically analyzes the existing body of research pertaining to the interplay between water, energy, food, and the environment in Iran and globally. Additionally, it highlights the challenges encountered in studying this intricate relationship and underscores the imperative for further investigation in this domain. This study reveals that the main barriers to achieving global integration of water, energy, food, and the environment are sector‐specific policies and a dearth of integrated management approaches. The findings of this study encompass recommendations for enhancing the interplay between water, energy, food, and the environment. Additionally, establishing a dedicated policy‐making institution and reaching a consensus on a comprehensive plan are crucial steps. Furthermore, it is imperative to develop and enhance the infrastructure of the clearing market to address pertinent matters effectively.
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spelling doaj-art-85ca3b4cdfd947ad8af875392a59d9e62025-08-20T02:37:21ZengWileyEnergy Science & Engineering2050-05052024-12-0112125708572610.1002/ese3.1950Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian CasesRahim Zahedi0Alireza Aslani1Hossein Yousefi2Younes Noorollahi3Fatemeh Razi Astaraei4Department of Renewable Energies and Environment University of Tehran Tehran IranDepartment of Renewable Energies and Environment University of Tehran Tehran IranDepartment of Renewable Energies and Environment University of Tehran Tehran IranDepartment of Renewable Energies and Environment University of Tehran Tehran IranDepartment of Renewable Energies and Environment University of Tehran Tehran IranABSTRACT The challenge of providing water, energy, food, and managing the environment (WEFEN) is widely recognized as a significant barrier to global advancement in light of the increasing population. The interconnections among water, energy, food, and the environment constitute a comprehensive framework for achieving sustainability. Based on projections, it is anticipated that the global community will encounter crises pertaining to water, energy, food, and the environment in the foreseeable future. The objective of this paper is to analyze global research endeavors pertaining to the interconnections among water, energy, food, and the environment. Additionally, it aims to address the challenges and imperatives of investigating this nexus within the context of the world. This framework aims to achieve a harmonious equilibrium by considering the diverse objectives, interests, and requirements of both human societies and the natural environment. The correlation established by WEFEN has the potential to provide valuable insights for informing future global sustainable development policies in relation to environmental and water crises. This review study critically analyzes the existing body of research pertaining to the interplay between water, energy, food, and the environment in Iran and globally. Additionally, it highlights the challenges encountered in studying this intricate relationship and underscores the imperative for further investigation in this domain. This study reveals that the main barriers to achieving global integration of water, energy, food, and the environment are sector‐specific policies and a dearth of integrated management approaches. The findings of this study encompass recommendations for enhancing the interplay between water, energy, food, and the environment. Additionally, establishing a dedicated policy‐making institution and reaching a consensus on a comprehensive plan are crucial steps. Furthermore, it is imperative to develop and enhance the infrastructure of the clearing market to address pertinent matters effectively.https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1950security of supplystrategic analysissustainable developmentwater energy food and environment nexusWEFEN
spellingShingle Rahim Zahedi
Alireza Aslani
Hossein Yousefi
Younes Noorollahi
Fatemeh Razi Astaraei
Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian Cases
Energy Science & Engineering
security of supply
strategic analysis
sustainable development
water energy food and environment nexus
WEFEN
title Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian Cases
title_full Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian Cases
title_fullStr Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian Cases
title_full_unstemmed Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian Cases
title_short Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Transition, Addressing Gaps, and Implementing Solutions for Global and Iranian Cases
title_sort water energy food and environment nexus for achieving sustainable transition addressing gaps and implementing solutions for global and iranian cases
topic security of supply
strategic analysis
sustainable development
water energy food and environment nexus
WEFEN
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1950
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