Global experts converge to strengthen the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus for a sustainable future
New Delhi, October 23, 2024: The ‘WEFE Nexus – Towards Common Grounds to Strengthen Water Security’ session brought together leading experts from across sectors to discuss strategies for balancing water use between food production, energy generation, and ecosystem health, underscoring the need for collaborative solutions to address pressing global and regional challenges. The event highlighted the interconnectedness of water, energy, food, and ecosystems, emphasizing integrated approaches for a sustainable and equitable future.
High-level discussions at the G-STIC 2024 conference spotlighted integrated solutions for water security, energy transitions, and ecosystem conservation, setting the stage for G-STIC 2025 in South Africa
Ms Archana Varma, Mission Director, National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti, emphasised the interconnectedness of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus in strengthening water security during her keynote address. She expressed concern about India’s water-stressed status, stating, “The gap between demand and availability of water is increasing and the interconnectedness of water, food, energy, and ecosystem (WEFE) is crucial for sustainable growth.” Highlighting the issue of low water use efficiency in the agricultural sector, Ms Varma underscored the importance of community involvement in conservation and diversifying crops to mitigate water scarcity. She further highlighted that, “The Jal Shakti Abhiyan aims to harness the community, particularly women, to implement best practices and achieve better outcomes.”
During the session, Mr Rishi Srivastava, Director at the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID), underscored the challenges and way forward on water, food and energy security of India. Highlighting the need for water storage solutions, he added, “While India has significant rainfall, the ability to harness this resource is inadequate and without proper infrastructure and management strategies of rainwater harvesting it is very difficult to meet the growing demands of agriculture and industry.”
Mr Pieter Lodewijks, Program Manager at VITO/EnergyVille, shared two case studies from Africa to showcase the modelling system. He made presentations on the Epic Africa project and Omo Ghibi Basin in Ethiopia. “Using solar and electrical pumps as alternatives to diesel pumps contributes to more sustainable farming practices by reducing GHG emissions and fossil fuel dependency. Making the shift requires a strong regulatory framework to support alternative solutions (access to electricity and technology),” he recommended.
Dr Hwanil Park, Chief Director at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) in South Korea, showcased the development of a WEF nexus project in Mekong region and its implications. “With increasing climate change and population growth risks, the countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar exhibit high vulnerability to WEF challenges. The initiative aims to strengthen water and food security at the community level while enhancing employment opportunities and reducing poverty. Utilizing a South-South and triangular cooperation model, the project engages various stakeholders, including regional, country, and local entities, to facilitate knowledge sharing and innovative solutions,” he shared.
The high-level closing session brought together key stakeholders to consolidate insights from the discussions. “In the conference, we were reminded of the interconnectedness of our goals—how actions in one domain, such as water security, have profound impacts on agriculture, energy, and overall economic growth. This multisectoral lens is what we must carry forward, ensuring that our solutions are holistic and inclusive, leaving no community behind,” said Mr Anshuman, Director, Water Resources Division, TERI, in his closing remarks.
Delivering the keynote address during the closing session, Mr Nitin Desai, Chairman of TERI’s Governing Council, said, “It’s fascinating to witness how technology, ecology, and social dimensions are deeply interconnected, yet mainstream economics has not fully embraced this. This approach often treats the environment as a secondary factor, when in reality, it is central to sustainable development. For instance, India's renewable energy growth is a testament to the power of combining technology, entrepreneurship, and financial investment.”
The session also served as a curtain-raiser for the upcoming G-STIC 2025 conference. Dr Kaven Naidoo, Group Executive at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa, remarked, “The G-STIC conference was refreshing, spanning from policy dialogue to technical discussions, and I hope future conferences will include dimensions like financing and investment. It's a privilege to announce that South Africa will host next year's G-STIC conference in October 2025. Our nation is driven by innovation and resilience, and we look forward to showcasing our progress.”
As G-STIC 2024 concluded, the event left attendees with a shared message: sustainable progress requires the alignment of technology, policy, and community-driven action, ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey towards a resilient future.