Nexus approach to enhance water-energy-food security and ecosystems resilience under climate change in the Mediterranean

This study presents nexus-based solutions—centred on water—for foster synergies and reduce trade-offs, with nature-based, socially inclusive, and clean energy strategies offering transformative potential, with a focus on the Mediterranean. Yet governance, cooperation, and data gaps persist; closing these is vital to operationalize the nexus and advance regional sustainability.

Water scarcity, the main challenge identified in the Mediterranean region, both as a long-standing structural issue and as a pressure intensified by climate change, is deeply interconnected with the socio-economic vulnerabilities of the basin. The intricate interdependencies between water, energy, food and ecosystems (WEFE) further compound these challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated and equitable solutions, as responses aiming to address challenges linked to one component in isolation may start a series of cascading effects on the other components of WEFE. These outcomes result from adaptation strategies narrowly focused on singular short-term goals, such as maximizing food production through intensive agriculture, often at the cost of water availability, soil health, and biodiversity. The trends reflect a fundamental tension: while short-term sectoral responses may seem effective in isolation, they often deepen interlinked vulnerabilities by neglecting systemic feedbacks.