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Intensive resource exploitation and extraction, climate change, demographic shifts, land use competition and biodiversity loss are pushing natural environments to breaking point. Finding solutions requires a joined-up approach, the WEFE nexus approach, that considers how decisions across the water, energy, agriculture, environment and land-use sectors interact with one another.
The projects in this Pack span continents, governance levels and disciplinary boundaries. Yet all share a common goal: to equip policymakers, practitioners and researchers with the tools, evidence and participatory processes needed to manage interconnected resources more efficiently, equitably and sustainably. They also underscore the importance of addressing biodiversity as a core component of the nexus.
The projects reflect the need for new analytical and digital tools in integrated governance. To support improved WEFE integration in decision making, these initiatives delivered innovative monitoring schemes, demand forecasting, socio economic assessments, and advanced scenario planning.
The value of co creation is also present, reflected through Learning and Action Alliances, stakeholder engagement toolkits, participatory dialogues, and co designed interventions. The geopolitical and transboundary dimensions of WEFE governance feature as well, with successful programmes demonstrating how shared resources can become platforms for cooperation rather than conflict.
Collectively, the five projects show that integrated WEFE governance is not only possible, but already under way across Europe. The tools, frameworks and real world case studies presented in this document offer policymakers actionable pathways to strengthen resilience and long-term sustainability, reduce trade offs, and support European policy ambitions outlined in initiatives such as the Water Framework Directive(opens in new window), the European Green Deal(opens in new window) and the European Water Resilience Strategy(opens in new window).
As pressures on natural resources increase, these findings offer an essential contribution to the design of Europe’s future water, energy, food and ecosystem policies.
The BIONEXT project developed knowledge, scenarios and tools to help stakeholders integrate biodiversity considerations into planning decisions. The GoNEXUS and NEXOGENESIS projects developed policymaking frameworks, supported by modelling and decision-support tools, to power integrated WEFE governance strategies.
The RETOUCH Nexus project provides practical tools and indicators to help European authorities implement more integrated and resilient water management, while the REXUS project demonstrated how integrated WEFE nexus management can improve decision-making across diverse river basins.