Integrated Solutions for the Water-Energy-Land Nexus: Are Global Models Rising to the Challenge?

Johnson, N., Burek, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6390-8487, Byers, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0349-5742, Falchetta, G., Flörke, M., Fujimori, S., Havlik, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5551-5085, Hejazi, M., Hunt, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1840-7277, Krey, V. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0307-3515, Langan, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0742-3658, Nakicenovic, N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7176-4604, Palazzo, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8167-9403, Popp, A., Riahi, K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7193-3498, van Dijk, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5207-7304, van Vliet, M.T.H., van Vuuren, D.P., Wada, Y. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4770-2539, Wiberg, D., et al. (2019). Integrated Solutions for the Water-Energy-Land Nexus: Are Global Models Rising to the Challenge? Water 11 (11) no. 2223. 10.3390/w11112223.

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Abstract

Increasing human demands for water, energy, food and materials, are expected to accentuate resource supply challenges over the coming decades. Experience suggests that long-term strategies for a single sector could yield both trade-offs and synergies for other sectors. Thus, long-term transition pathways for linked resource systems should be informed using nexus approaches. Global integrated assessment models can represent the synergies and trade-offs inherent in the exploitation of water, energy and land (WEL) resources, including the impacts of international trade and climate policies. In this study, we review the current state-of-the-science in global integrated assessment modeling with an emphasis on how models have incorporated integrated WEL solutions. A large-scale assessment of the relevant literature was performed using online databases and structured keyword search queries. The results point to the following main opportunities for future research and model development: (1) improving the temporal and spatial resolution of economic models for the energy and water sectors; (2) balancing energy and land requirements across sectors; (3) integrated representation of the role of distribution infrastructure in alleviating resource challenges; (4) modeling of solution impacts on downstream environmental quality; (5) improved representation of the implementation challenges stemming from regional financial and institutional capacity; (6) enabling dynamic multi-sectoral vulnerability and adaptation needs assessment; and (7) the development of fully-coupled assessment frameworks based on consistent, scalable, and regionally-transferable platforms. Improved database management and computational power are needed to address many of these modeling challenges at a global-scale.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	integrated assessment modeling; global change; sustainable development; water futures; energy transformations; land-use change
Research Programs:	Energy (ENE) Ecosystems Services and Management (ESM) Transitions to New Technologies (TNT) Water (WAT)
Depositing User:	Michaela Rossini
Date Deposited:	25 Oct 2019 16:08
Last Modified:	28 Aug 2024 08:12
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/16126

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