Application of Nexus Approach in Hydropolitics of Transboundary Rivers

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Water Engineering and Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 M.Sc. Student, Department of Irrigation & Reclamation Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Water Engineering and Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Most of the water problems are complex, with unpredictable and dynamic interactions as well as multiple feedbacks with different sectors, like energy, food, and climate. A holistic approach is required for recognizing the interactions among different parts of water resources with other sources. "Nexus" as a novel and holistic approach can be applied to deal with the complexities of water-food-energy interactions. This approach is also so fruitful in transboundary water relations among riparian countries. Considering the interactions among water, food, energy sectors, and the direct effect of the allocation of water resources across borders can be a great potential for dealing with transboundary basin conflicts. It is necessary to apply nexus approach as an appropriate and comprehensive approach for the right policy-making and good governance in transboundary river basins. This paper, with its fundamental-theoretical and descriptive and analytical method, tries to examine the function of the WFE nexus approach in water governance in general and governance of transboundary water relations in particular. As case studies approach, the Brahmaputra and Aral basins are analyzed. Finally, it will be shown how the use of water, energy and the environment nexus approach has created sustainable interactions between India and Bhutan in the Brahmaputra basin and how non-compliance with the WFE nexus approach for Central Asian countries in the Aral basin has created economic costs and environmental damage.

Keywords

References

[1]. Hagemann N, Kirschke S. Key Issues of Interdisciplinary NEXUS Governance Analyses: Lessons Learned from Research on Integrated Water Resources Management. Resources. 2017;6(1):9.
[2]. Rasul G. Food, Water, and Energy Security in South Asia: A Nexus Perspective from the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Environmental Science & Policy. 2014;39:35–48.
[3]. Smajgl A, Ward J, Pluschke L. The Water-Food-Energy Nexus - Realising a New Paradigm. Journal of Hydrology. 2016;533(1):533–40.
[4]. Pahl-Wostl C. Governance of the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: A Multi-Level Coordination Challenge. Environmental Science and Policy. 2017;92(1):356–67.
[5]. Kolahzari-Moghadam F, Ketabchi H. Feasibility of Applying a Simulation-Optimization Model for Assessment of Decisions Based on Water-Energy-Food NEXUS Considering the Environmental Damages. Iranian journal of Ecohydrology. 2020;7(2):313–29. [Persian].
[6]. Goodarzi M, Piryaei R, Mousavi M rahim. Climatic Changes and the Application of an Urban WEF Nexus Approach to the Utilization of the Existing Recources in Boroujerd. Iranian journal of Ecohydrology 2019;6(3):569-584. [Persian] .
[7]. Keskinen M, Guillaume J, Kattelus M, Porkka M, Räsänen T, Varis O. The Water-Energy-Food Nexus and the Transboundary Context: Insights from Large Asian Rivers. Water. 2016;8(5):193.
[8]. Weitz N, Strambo C, Kemp-Benedict E, Nilsson M. Closing the governance gaps in the water-energy-food nexus: Insights from integrative governance. Global Environmental Change. 2017;45:165–73.
[9]. World Economic Forum Water Initiative. Water Security : the Water-Food-Energy-Climate Nexus : the World Economic Forum Water Initiative. Washington, DC, US: Island Press-World Economic Forum Water Initiative; 2011.
[10].            Vlotman WF, Ballard C. Water, Food and Energy Supply Chains for a Green Economy. Irrigation and Drainage. 2014;63(2):232–40.
[11].            Keskinen M, Varis O. Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Large Asian River Basins. Water. 2016;8(1):1–10.
[12].            Kibaroglu A, Gürsoy SI. Water–Energy–Food Nexus in a Transboundary Context: the Euphrates–Tigris River Basin as a Case Study. Water International. 2015;40(5–6):824–38.
[13].            Keskinen M, Someth P, Salmivaara A, Kummu M. Water-Energy-Food Nexus in a Transboundary River Basin: The Case of Tonle Sap Lake, Mekong River Basin. Water. 2015;7(1):5416–36.
[14].            Hoff H. Understanding the Nexus, Background Paper for the Bonn 2011 Conference. In: The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus. Stockholm: Stockholm Environment Institute. 2011: 1–51.
[15].            Bazilian M, Rogner H, Howells M, Hermann S, Arent D, Gielen D, et al. Considering the Energy, Water and Wood Nexus: Towards an Integrated Modelling Approach. Energy Policy. 2011;39(12):7896–906.
[16].            FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). An Innovative Accounting Framework for the Food-Energy-Water Nexus—Application of the MuSIASEM Approach to Three Case Studies. 2013.
[17].            Gasper D, Apthorpe R. Introduction: Discourse Analysis and Policy Discourse. The European Journal of Development Research. 1996;8(1):1–15.
[18].            IUCN & IWA. Nexus Dialogue on Water Infrastructure Solutions: Building Partnerships for Innovation inWater, Energy and Food Security. Beijing, China: 2012.
[19].            EU. Confronting Scarcity: Managing Water, Energy and Land for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth. 2012.
[20].            Grigg NS. IWRM and the Nexus Approach: Versatile Concepts for Water Resources Education. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education. 2019;166(1):24–34.
[21].            GWP. Integrated Water Resources Management Global Water Partnership Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Background Paper No.4. 2000.
 
[22].            Mianabadi H. Integrated Water Resources Management Notebook, Master Courses. Tarbiat Modares University. 2019. [Persian].
[23].            Mianabadi H. Hydropolitics and Conflict Management in Transboundary River Basins. PhD Thesis, Delft University of Technology. 2016.
[24].            Iyob B. Resilience and Adaptability of Transboundary Rivers: The Principle of Equitable Distribution of Benefits and the Institutional Capacity of the Nile Basin. PhD Thesis, Oregon State University. 2010.
[25].            Benson D, Gain AK, Rouillard JJ. Water Governance in a Comparative Perspective: From IWRM to a “Nexus” Approach? Water Alternatives. 2015;8(1):756–73.
[26].            Wicaksono A, Kang D. Nationwide Simulation of Water, Energy , and Food Nexus: Case Study in South Korea and Indonesia. Journal of Hydro-environment Research. 2018;22(3):1–18.
[27].            Bach H, Bird J, Clausen TJ, Jensen KM, Lange RB, Taylor R, et al. Transboundary River Basin Management: Addressing Water, Energy and Food Security. Vientiane, Lao PDR: Mekong River Commission; 2012.
[28].            Santelmann MV. Water, Energy, and Food Nexus in the Amu-Darya River Basin: Analysis of Water Demand and Supply Management Infrastructure Development at Transboundary Level. Master Thesis, Oregon State University. 2020.
[29].            FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A New Approach in Support of Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture. Rome, Italy 2014.
[30].            Wicaksono A, Jeong G, Kang D. Water, Energy, and Food Nexus: Review of Global Implementation and Simulation Model Development. Water Policy. 2017;19(1):440–62.
[31].            FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). World Food Summit Plan of Action. 1996.
[32].            Gerlak AK, House-Peters L, Varady RG, Albrecht T, Zúñiga-Terán A, Grenade RR de, et al. Water Security: A Review of Place-Based Research. Environmental Science and Policy. 2018;82(1):79–89.
[33].            McCracken M, Peters LER, Wolf AT. Megatrends in Shared Waters in 2030 and Beyond. 2018;105–23.
[34].            Ganoulis J, Fried J. Transboundary Hydro-Governance from Conflict to Shared Management. Cham, Switzerland: Springer; 2018.
[35].            Keohane R, Nye JS. Power and Interdependence Revisited. International Organization. 1987;41(4):725–53.
[36].            Keohane R, Nye JS. Power and Interdependence. Third Edition. New York: Longman; 2001.
[37].            Salmoral G, Schaap NCE, Walschebauer J, Alhajaj A. Water Diplomacy and Nexus Governance in a Transboundary Context: In the Search for Complementarities. Science of the Total Environment. 2019;690(1):85–96.
[38].            Yang YCE, Wi S, Ray PA, Brown CM, Khalil AF. The Future Nexus of the Brahmaputra River Basin: Climate, Water, Energy and Food Trajectories. Global Environmental Change. 2016;37(37):16–30.
[39].            FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Transboundary River Basins – Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River Basin. Rome, Italy. 2011.
[40].            Brahmaputra River Symposium. Brahmaputra River Basin. 2011.
[41].            Biswas AK. Cooperation or Conflict in Transboundary Water Management: Case Study of South Asia. Hydrological Sciences Journal. 2011;56(4):662–70.
[42].            Menga F. Power and Dams in Central Asia. PhD Thesis, The University of Cagliari. 2014.
[43].            Koolaee E, Soltani MJ. Problem of Water and Central Asia Republics Relations. World Politics. 2013;2(3):7–34. [Persian]
[44].            Pohl B, Kramer A, Hull W, Blumstein S, Abdullaev I, Kazbekov J, et al. Rethinking Water in Central Asia. Berlin: 2017.
[45].            Szalkai K. Water Issues are What States Make of Them : a Constructivist Approach to Conflict and Cooperation Over Trans - Boundary. Master Thesis, Central European University. 2012.
[46].            Smith DR. Environmental Security and Shared Water Resources in Post-Soviet Central Asia. Post-Soviet Geography. 1995;36(6):351–70.
[47].            Micklin P. The Aral Sea Disaster. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 2007;35(1):47–72.
[48].            CAWater-Info. Data of the Aral Sea. 2019.
[49].            FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). The Aral Sea Transboundary River Basin. 2012.
[50].            Rakhmatullaev S, Abdullaev I, Kazbekov J. Water-Energy-Food-Environmental Nexus in Central Asia: From Transition to Transformation. In: Zhiltsov SS, Zonn IS, Kostianoy AG, Semenov A V., editors. Water Resources in Central Asia: International Context. Springer, Cham; 2017. page 103–20.
[51].            EDB. Water and Energy Resources in Central Asia: Utilization and Development Issues. Almaty, Kazakhstan: 2008.
[52].            Eni. World Oil and Gas Review 2011. Rome, Italy: 2010.
 
[53].            BP. BP Statistical Review of World Energy. London, England: 2010.
[54].            ADB. Central Asia Atlas of Natural Resources. Manila, Philippines: 2010.
[55].            Raskin P, Hansen E, Zhu Z, Stavisky D. Simulation of Water Supply and Demand in the Aral Sea Region. Water International. 1992;17(2):55–67.
[56].            Ghoreishi SZ, Mianabadi H, Hajiani E. The Dimensions of Hydraulic Mission in Turkey’s Hydropolitics. Water Resources Management. 2020;16(1). [Persian].
Iranian journal of Ecohydrology
Volume 7, Issue 3
October 2020
Pages 757-773

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 10 April 2020
  • Revise Date: 17 July 2020
  • Accept Date: 17 July 2020

Share

How to cite

Statistics