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clear effect on the others, but defining the scale of connection between all three
has been challenging, unpredictable, and oftentimes, uncharted. More importantly, developing viable solutions to cope with conflict in the nexus is critical to
future management, policy development, and human interaction with the
environment.
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. We learned about the challenges in California with respect to water allocation,
drought, and flooding. Based on the solutions discussed above, how would you
improve water management in California to balance human and environmental
needs? What specific conflict resolution tools might you use?
2. With respect to climate change, how can governments ensure the FEW nexus
stays in balance? What tools can be used to adapt to climate changes while
ensuring security for food, energy, and water sources? (See, e.g., U.S. DOE
2015).
3. Many areas of the world remain vulnerable to imbalances in the nexus, especially in areas of the Middle East and Africa where food and water security is
of concern. What factors should be prioritized in resolving transboundary conflicts between nations in these areas? Why did you choose these factors?
4. A number of solutions have been developed at multiple scales for reducing
human conflict within the nexus. Which solution do you think can be used at all
scales successfully? Why?
5. In many parts of the world, weak governance structures lead to conflict over
nexus factors. How can alternative dispute resolution processes help overcome
this lack of framework?
6. You are an ambassador for a country that is part of a multi-nation global environmental agreement to conserve freshwater supplies. One of the signatory
nations has proposed to amend the agreement to build more dams along a river
that creates the border with another nation also party to the agreement. The
border nation opposes additional construction of dams for fear of receiving less
water from the shared river source. As a result, it has threatened to leave the
environmental agreement altogether on national security grounds. How might
this issue be managed where the interests of both countries are taken into
account?
7. After learning about human conflict and the nexus, how can modeling tools be
used to help resolve a conflict over competing demands for food, energy, and
water supplies?
8. Based on the roles of economics, infrastructure, and ecosystems play on the
nexus, how can human conflict exasperate or mitigate these factors?
9. Human conflict often emerges from competing demands for limited resources.
Based on earlier chapters addressing data challenges, how would you resolve
conflicts where data gaps make it difficult to develop policy or for leaders to
make important decisions?
10. Modeling tools can be effective predictors for future climate scenarios, as well
as water and food supplies. However, models can produce different results,
L. B. Fowler and R. T. Caccese
clear effect on the others, but defining the scale of connection between all three
has been challenging, unpredictable, and oftentimes, uncharted. More importantly, developing viable solutions to cope with conflict in the nexus is critical to
future management, policy development, and human interaction with the
environment.
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. We learned about the challenges in California with respect to water allocation,
drought, and flooding. Based on the solutions discussed above, how would you
improve water management in California to balance human and environmental
needs? What specific conflict resolution tools might you use?
2. With respect to climate change, how can governments ensure the FEW nexus
stays in balance? What tools can be used to adapt to climate changes while
ensuring security for food, energy, and water sources? (See, e.g., U.S. DOE
2015).
3. Many areas of the world remain vulnerable to imbalances in the nexus, especially in areas of the Middle East and Africa where food and water security is
of concern. What factors should be prioritized in resolving transboundary conflicts between nations in these areas? Why did you choose these factors?
4. A number of solutions have been developed at multiple scales for reducing
human conflict within the nexus. Which solution do you think can be used at all
scales successfully? Why?
5. In many parts of the world, weak governance structures lead to conflict over
nexus factors. How can alternative dispute resolution processes help overcome
this lack of framework?
6. You are an ambassador for a country that is part of a multi-nation global environmental agreement to conserve freshwater supplies. One of the signatory
nations has proposed to amend the agreement to build more dams along a river
that creates the border with another nation also party to the agreement. The
border nation opposes additional construction of dams for fear of receiving less
water from the shared river source. As a result, it has threatened to leave the
environmental agreement altogether on national security grounds. How might
this issue be managed where the interests of both countries are taken into
account?
7. After learning about human conflict and the nexus, how can modeling tools be
used to help resolve a conflict over competing demands for food, energy, and
water supplies?
8. Based on the roles of economics, infrastructure, and ecosystems play on the
nexus, how can human conflict exasperate or mitigate these factors?
9. Human conflict often emerges from competing demands for limited resources.
Based on earlier chapters addressing data challenges, how would you resolve
conflicts where data gaps make it difficult to develop policy or for leaders to
make important decisions?
10. Modeling tools can be effective predictors for future climate scenarios, as well
as water and food supplies. However, models can produce different results,
L. B. Fowler and R. T. Caccese