517
• The experiences of communities—whether defined socially or spatially—that
are subject to impoverishment and exclusion need to be the starting point for
addressing integrated FEW crises. Developing solutions that are equitable and
sustainable is not just about stating the problem but also about asking how examining the problems and their sources helps the USA to identify pathways that
lead to positive outcomes for these communities and thus for society as a whole.
• Portland Oregon’s work at the FEW nexus is driven by innovative processoriented municipal planning and policy aimed at protecting the environment and
limiting the negative impacts of climate change by engaging public, private, civil
society, and individual agency to implement changes at a variety of scales.
• Many of the main players involved in developing Detroit, Michigan’s sustainable
systems at the FEW nexus are Civil Society (Social Impact and private) entities
which are working in areas of sustainability and food systems, as well as individuals within the City’s urban agricultural network, and leaders within City
departments and regional agencies.
• Curitiba, Brazil innovates at the FEW nexus through several large-scale programs and planning projects, including a public exchange of recyclables and
trash for tokens to obtain fresh produce and bus transportation that largely benefits low-income individuals, and the promotion of urban density to reduce
energy usage for transportation and water supply.
• FEW innovation in the Tianjin Eco-City project is driven by binational governmental cooperation supported by a wide range of private-sector partnerships. In
the master planning process for the Tianjin Eco-City, FEW nexus opportunities
were identified to develop a new city that would serve as a sustainable, healthy
environment for its residents, and as an industrial hub of the green economy for
the two countries involved.
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. Discuss why it is imperative that we understand the food–energy–water nexus
in cities, specifically. How does the FEW nexus in cities compare to that in
rural, suburban, and peri-urban areas?
2. Discuss the role that the private sector and economy play as a driver of the
food–energy–water nexus in cities. Draw an example of the private sector’s role
in the nexus from one of the case studies discussed in the chapter (see Sect.
18.5) or provide an example from your own experience.
3. Discuss the role that the public sector and governance play as a driver of the
food–energy–water nexus in cities. Draw an example of the public sector’s role
in the nexus from one of the case studies discussed in the chapter (see Sect.
18.5) or provide an example from your own experience.
4. Discuss the role that civil society plays as a driver of the food–energy–water
nexus in cities. Draw an example of civil society’s role in the nexus from one of
the case studies discussed in the chapter (see Sect. 18.5) or provide an example
from your own experience.
5. Discuss the role that the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of individuals
plays as a driver of the food–energy–water nexus in cities. Draw an example of
18 Cities at the Nexus
• The experiences of communities—whether defined socially or spatially—that
are subject to impoverishment and exclusion need to be the starting point for
addressing integrated FEW crises. Developing solutions that are equitable and
sustainable is not just about stating the problem but also about asking how examining the problems and their sources helps the USA to identify pathways that
lead to positive outcomes for these communities and thus for society as a whole.
• Portland Oregon’s work at the FEW nexus is driven by innovative processoriented municipal planning and policy aimed at protecting the environment and
limiting the negative impacts of climate change by engaging public, private, civil
society, and individual agency to implement changes at a variety of scales.
• Many of the main players involved in developing Detroit, Michigan’s sustainable
systems at the FEW nexus are Civil Society (Social Impact and private) entities
which are working in areas of sustainability and food systems, as well as individuals within the City’s urban agricultural network, and leaders within City
departments and regional agencies.
• Curitiba, Brazil innovates at the FEW nexus through several large-scale programs and planning projects, including a public exchange of recyclables and
trash for tokens to obtain fresh produce and bus transportation that largely benefits low-income individuals, and the promotion of urban density to reduce
energy usage for transportation and water supply.
• FEW innovation in the Tianjin Eco-City project is driven by binational governmental cooperation supported by a wide range of private-sector partnerships. In
the master planning process for the Tianjin Eco-City, FEW nexus opportunities
were identified to develop a new city that would serve as a sustainable, healthy
environment for its residents, and as an industrial hub of the green economy for
the two countries involved.
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. Discuss why it is imperative that we understand the food–energy–water nexus
in cities, specifically. How does the FEW nexus in cities compare to that in
rural, suburban, and peri-urban areas?
2. Discuss the role that the private sector and economy play as a driver of the
food–energy–water nexus in cities. Draw an example of the private sector’s role
in the nexus from one of the case studies discussed in the chapter (see Sect.
18.5) or provide an example from your own experience.
3. Discuss the role that the public sector and governance play as a driver of the
food–energy–water nexus in cities. Draw an example of the public sector’s role
in the nexus from one of the case studies discussed in the chapter (see Sect.
18.5) or provide an example from your own experience.
4. Discuss the role that civil society plays as a driver of the food–energy–water
nexus in cities. Draw an example of civil society’s role in the nexus from one of
the case studies discussed in the chapter (see Sect. 18.5) or provide an example
from your own experience.
5. Discuss the role that the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of individuals
plays as a driver of the food–energy–water nexus in cities. Draw an example of
18 Cities at the Nexus