The water–energy–food–ecosystem nexus in Europe and Central Asia

Water, energy, food and ecosystems are deeply interconnected and form the backbone of agrifood systems across Europe and Central Asia. However, climate change, demographic pressures, ageing infrastructure and increasing competition across sectors are intensifying resource constraints and creating complex trade-offs for governments and stakeholders. At the same time, water quality deterioration caused by pollution, wastewater discharges and agricultural runoff is increasingly affecting water safety, ecosystems and agricultural productivity across the region.

Water availability is becoming more variable throughout Europe and Central Asia, and agriculture remains the largest water user in many countries. In Central Asia, irrigation-dependent agriculture faces increasing pressure due to glacier retreat, transboundary water dynamics and competing hydropower development. Across several parts of Europe, droughts, water quality deterioration and rising energy costs are increasingly affecting agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. Recently, several countries have experienced excessive precipitation leading to severe flooding that has affected agricultural land and urban areas. At the same time, ecosystems are under growing pressure from pollution, biodiversity loss, land degradation and unsustainable resource use. Degraded ecosystems further weaken the resilience of water and food systems, creating a reinforcing cycle of environmental and economic vulnerability.

Proactively managing these risks requires a long-term, forward-looking and systemic approach across sectors, fostering awareness, innovation and robust governance and policy frameworks.

These dynamics illustrate the importance of adopting integrated approaches to resource management. The water–energy–food–ecosystem (WEFE) nexus provides a framework for identifying synergies and managing trade-offs across sectors.

At the same time, new solutions are emerging that can support more resilient agrifood systems, including:

• modernization of irrigation systems and water governance,
• improved water productivity in agriculture,
• renewable energy solutions supporting irrigation and water services,
• new technologies and data for better resource management,
• strengthened regional cooperation in transboundary river basins.

This side event also will build on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) “Drops of the Future” initiative and related activities implemented under the Swiss Chairpersonship, including the declaration for shaping the future approach to the water, energy and food nexus across Central Asia and the Youth Assembly consultation on water management.

Agenda

Webcast