A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy
The excessive use of energy from fossil fuels, which corresponds to population, industrialisation, and unsustainable economic growth, is the cause of carbon dioxide production and climate change. The Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus is an applicable conceptual framework that helps manage the balance be...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/1017 |
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| author | Gricelda Herrera-Franco Lady Bravo-Montero Jhon Caicedo-Potosí Paúl Carrión-Mero |
| author_facet | Gricelda Herrera-Franco Lady Bravo-Montero Jhon Caicedo-Potosí Paúl Carrión-Mero |
| author_sort | Gricelda Herrera-Franco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The excessive use of energy from fossil fuels, which corresponds to population, industrialisation, and unsustainable economic growth, is the cause of carbon dioxide production and climate change. The Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus is an applicable conceptual framework that helps manage the balance between human development and natural resource constraints, and it becomes a valuable tool to address the challenges of resource depletion and clean energy. This article aims to analyse the relationship between the WEF nexus and clean energy through a statistical analysis and a systematic review of knowledge on energy sustainability. The methodology involves the selection of bibliographic information databases such as Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), a statistical analysis, specifically the Scientometrics applied to the information obtained, and the identification of 179 scientific publications related to the study variables through a screening process called Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The interaction of green energy and sustainability with the WEF nexus has been approached mainly by developed countries such as China (10%), the United States (9.49%), India (7.26%), and Brazil (5.02%). The review of 55 scientific papers identified strategies that balance economic growth and environmental impact, applying clean energy systems (e.g., solar and wind), and the importance of adaptation to the subsystems of the WEF nexus. This study also highlights adaptability to climate change in rural and urban communities. Therefore, it is consistent with the four pillars of sustainable development (Economic: 7 papers, Environmental: 22, Social: 18, and Cultural: 8). This study highlights the following: (a) the importance of the use of renewable energy either in mixed systems and consumption, energy storage, and seeking energy efficiency in systems adapted to diverse environments and (b) the relevance of community participation in the decision-making process for the use of clean energy, such as a strategy for climate change adaptation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:33:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3b8280d7bdf46f2b75ca0108becea30 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:33:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3b8280d7bdf46f2b75ca0108becea302024-04-12T13:27:12ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412024-04-01167101710.3390/w16071017A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean EnergyGricelda Herrera-Franco0Lady Bravo-Montero1Jhon Caicedo-Potosí2Paúl Carrión-Mero3Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Avda. Principal La Libertad-Santa Elena, La Libertad 240204, EcuadorCentro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo, km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, EcuadorCentro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo, km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, EcuadorCentro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo, km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, EcuadorThe excessive use of energy from fossil fuels, which corresponds to population, industrialisation, and unsustainable economic growth, is the cause of carbon dioxide production and climate change. The Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus is an applicable conceptual framework that helps manage the balance between human development and natural resource constraints, and it becomes a valuable tool to address the challenges of resource depletion and clean energy. This article aims to analyse the relationship between the WEF nexus and clean energy through a statistical analysis and a systematic review of knowledge on energy sustainability. The methodology involves the selection of bibliographic information databases such as Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), a statistical analysis, specifically the Scientometrics applied to the information obtained, and the identification of 179 scientific publications related to the study variables through a screening process called Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The interaction of green energy and sustainability with the WEF nexus has been approached mainly by developed countries such as China (10%), the United States (9.49%), India (7.26%), and Brazil (5.02%). The review of 55 scientific papers identified strategies that balance economic growth and environmental impact, applying clean energy systems (e.g., solar and wind), and the importance of adaptation to the subsystems of the WEF nexus. This study also highlights adaptability to climate change in rural and urban communities. Therefore, it is consistent with the four pillars of sustainable development (Economic: 7 papers, Environmental: 22, Social: 18, and Cultural: 8). This study highlights the following: (a) the importance of the use of renewable energy either in mixed systems and consumption, energy storage, and seeking energy efficiency in systems adapted to diverse environments and (b) the relevance of community participation in the decision-making process for the use of clean energy, such as a strategy for climate change adaptation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/1017renewable energy consumptionnexusenergy efficiencysustainable developmentdecision makingscientometrics |
| spellingShingle | Gricelda Herrera-Franco Lady Bravo-Montero Jhon Caicedo-Potosí Paúl Carrión-Mero A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy Water renewable energy consumption nexus energy efficiency sustainable development decision making scientometrics |
| title | A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy |
| title_full | A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy |
| title_fullStr | A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy |
| title_short | A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy |
| title_sort | sustainability approach between the water energy food nexus and clean energy |
| topic | renewable energy consumption nexus energy efficiency sustainable development decision making scientometrics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/1017 |
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