Governing the nexus: Lessons from water governance in the United States

The nexus has become an increasingly popular conceptual tool for understanding the various threats posed to natural resources by climate change and human use. Here we focus on the primary nexus elements of water, food, energy, and climate to reflect on some of the implications for contemporary freshwater governance. We propose an integrated nexus-collaborative governance approach to address complex challenges and support sustainable and equitable solutions. Using three case studies across the US—groundwater depletion, drought, and flooding—we illustrate the scope of nexus challenges, cross-sectoral trade-offs, and the potential for better water governance. We conclude with takeaways to inform nexus governance. First, decision-makers must account for and manage the various unintended consequences of resource uses and proposed solutions. Second, there is a need to better integrate environmental justice into the nexus, considering impacts to human health and well-being. We propose the local community as an effective site for engagement and innovation for nexus issues.