Capacity-Building and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Rethinking Integration in the Asia-Pacific

This book critically explores how the water-energy-food nexus can be used as an organising framework to address environmental degradation and sustainable development. Building effective and sustainable mechanisms to tackle environmental problems requires an in-depth understanding of relationships between natural resources, going beyond conventional policy and siloed decision-making. The water-energy-food nexus has been promoted as a conceptual framework and management tool to facilitate integrated planning and practical linkages to support sustainable development. The author opens this book with an overview of capacity building and reviews the significance of the water-energy-food nexus, bringing in links to the 2030 Agenda. Climate change is highlighted as a key consideration in any conversation about natural resource use and case studies from Japan, India and China are utilised to show that while long-term sustainable development practices are being implemented the environmental challenges across the region raise concerns about institutional capacity, economic sustainability and future of the region. Finally, through the lens of capacity building, the book suggests that whilst the water-energy-food nexus may provide a new approach to sustainable development, it will not be enough to achieve long-term sustainability or extend to the lives of those most affected. The book will be of interest to students, scholars and practitioners working in the water, energy, and agriculture sectors, and keen to adopt a transdisciplinary approach to public policy, comparative politics and international relations. It will also be a valuable resource to those working in governmental organisations and NGOs involved in capacity building and development.