ABSTRACT
Throughout history, human civilization has been bound by water’s spatial and temporal availability. It is clear that adaptation is urgently needed, and it is closely linked to water and its role in sustainable development. Most water treatment systems are powered by fossil fuel derived energy, which connects water treatment and transport to global climate change. In the vast majority of countries, water is considered a public good. In addition to industrial and economic considerations, the availability of freshwater can be a fundamental limitation on human health, food supply, and political stability. From a water perspective, urbanization can also lock in water resource-intensive development paths for decades to come. The link between energy and water further encompasses agriculture and food production—this leads us to the “Energy–Water–Food Nexus.” Cross-sectoral approaches are needed to address the opportunities and threats relating to water security and sustainability in the context of global change, rapid urbanization, and burgeoning consumer demand.
