Good Practice on the Water-Energy-Land Nexus in Germany and Europe

Water, energy, and land resources are vital for human well-being and are, furthermore, important building blocks for social development. Yet, the increasing demand generated by growing populations is putting ever-increasing pressure on these resources. At the same time, the water, energy, and agricultural sectors are closely intertwined (they form a nexus): activities in one sector often entail unintended and sometimes negative consequences in other sectors. At the same time, coordinated approaches can also generate synergies. The nexus approach analyses these sectoral linkages and coordination requirements and provides solutions for the prevention or reduction of potential adverse effects.

The German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) commissioned adelphi to elaborate a selection of nexus approaches in Germany and Europe to serve as examples for international, regional, and national nexus dialogues in GIZ partner countries. To date, such nexus examples from Germany and Europe have not been available for use within German development cooperation.

adelphi thus examined the form and scope of inter-sectoral coordination is taking place in the design of national political and legal frameworks for the use and protection of water, energy and land resources in Germany. The analysis focused on existing mechanisms for inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral coordination in the development of sectoral policies, regulatory measures, and funding instruments. The results of the project were summarised in a report.