A toolkit to manage cross-sectoral and transboundary impacts

The need to consider nexus sectors in renewable energy planning was first highlighted in a 2015 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) entitled Renewable Energy in the Water, Energy and Food Nexus. The report explored various synergies and trade-offs between renewable energy, water and food production, calling for the development of a practical assessment tool to identify, quantify and assess the impact of energy policy choices in the energy-water-food-ecosystems nexus, and conceptualizing the incorporation of sustainability concerns into renewable energy deployment. In the same year, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) published a methodology for assessing nexus issues in transboundary basins, the first applications of which highlighted the important role of renewable energy.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Clean Water and Sanitation

Affordable and Clean Energy

Climate Action