Navigating cascading food-energy-water insecurities: A case of community leadership in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Climate change increases the frequency of intense hazards and disasters, affecting critical food, energy, and water (FEW) systems. As a result, local communities can experience food, energy, and water insecurities and associated public health risks. Amid long-standing contexts of chronic state negligence, ineffective disaster response, and infrastructural degradation, community leaders often become first responders to the potential risks and realizations of cascading FEW system failures. Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology with local leaders in Corcovada, a rural community in western Puerto Rico, we analyze the connections and interdependencies of food, energy, and water insecurity experiences, along with associated community health challenges in the context of compounding hazards and disasters. Through a thematic qualitative analysis, we find that energy security is crucial for community food and water security, as exemplified by its role in food preparation, nutritional choices, water availability, and water quality. Similarly, energy reliability to store medication and operate health equipment are central community health challenges. By engaging community leaders through CBPR, FEW securities can be enhanced through building capacity, identifying context-specific challenges, and developing community-driven responses. We contend that local community leaders are important governance actors to consider in FEW nexus policy- and decision-making. Community engagement in FEW nexus research can deepen understandings of integrated challenges following hazards and disasters and facilitate the development of potential solutions that benefit frontline communities.