Abstract
Rapid urbanization poses great challenges to water-energy-food nexus (WEF-Nexus) system, calling for integrative resources governance to improve the synergies between subsystems that constitute the Nexus. This paper explores the synergies within the WEF-Nexus in Shenzhen city while using the synergetic model. We first identify the order parameters and their causal paths in three subsystems and set several eigenvectors under each parameter. Secondly, a synergetic model is developed to calculate the synergy degree among parameters, and the synergetic networks are then further constructed. Centrality analysis on the synergetic networks reveals that the centralities of food subsystem perform the highest level while the water subsystem at the lowest level. Finally, we put forward some policy implications for cross-sectoral resources governance by embedding the synergy degree into causal paths. The results show that the synergies of the Nexus system in Shenzhen can be maximized by stabilizing water supply, coordinating the energy imports and exports, and reducing the crops sown areas.
Highlights
Water, energy, and food (WEF) are the most important elements for human wellbeing and sustainable development [1]
After reviewing the literature in WEF-Nexus domain, we find that most types of causal paths that exist among order parameters have been scientifically tested
The core of the synergetic model is to calculate the variations of multi-eigenvectors at different time, and obtain the synergy degree among all order parameters
Summary
Energy, and food (WEF) are the most important elements for human wellbeing and sustainable development [1]. For a better understanding of the complex interconnections of WEF Nexus, an integrated model that provides the synergetic view and further quantifies the network features among the critical elements within the Nexus needs to be developed. When it comes to the research scales, the prevailing opinions largely see Nexus as the local scale that often proved to be unsustainable, owing to inadequate cross-sectoral synergies. Exploring the synergies of WEF-Nexus in Shenzhen will provide useful policy implications for developing countries during rapid urbanization, and valuable practices for megacities to seek sustainable resources governance and the implementations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This paper proposes some policy implications that aim to guide the integrative urban WEF integrated governance by embedding the synergy degree into causal paths
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