589
sustains and regenerates the biophysical environment. Progressive changes provide
opportunities for rewarding labor, investment, and consumption in the economic
system. Positive opportunities impel and support social systems that are inclusive,
open, equitable, and just in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and age.
In this chapter, we shift from “what is” to “what might be.” We begin by exploring some criteria for identifying real-world challenges that provide greater impetus
and opportunity for applying integrated FEW science to real-world practice. There
is the greatest opportunity for FEW Nexus applications to improve outcomes where
there is a specific combination of scarcity, competition, externalities, and shared
benefits. This often involves the invention of mechanisms for cooperation, reallocation of resources, sharing of private data, transactions across system boundaries,
and the limited but proper role of government and law and, more broadly, the community of science and practice in the FEW nexus. We conclude with a number of
case studies of Nexus work and practice that epitomize the opportunities that exist.
21.2 Situations Favorable to the Application of Nexus
Science to Practice
In Sect. 1.5.2, we noted that certain situations provide greater impetus and opportunity for applying integrated FEW science to real-world practice. We now revisit the
three examples of this in the context of the entire book.
21.2.1 Acute Scarcity of Two or More FEW Commodities
The aphorism “no crisis should go to waste” encapsulates opportunity for significant
change that becomes possible following a natural or man-made catastrophe.
Rebuilding after a storm (e.g., Puerto Rico), or creating new structures of governance
after a war (e.g., the United Nations) are familiar examples. Situations of food, energy,
and water insecurity are also opportunities for change. Scarcity primarily refers to the
physical availability and the physical, legal, and economic access attributes of food,
energy, and water security (see Sect. 3.2). These case studies provide opportunities to
learn from systems approaches to resource management to build resilience.
Droughts are occurring with some frequency. Examples of droughts that have
been noted in this book include California (2011–2017) (see Sects. 11.4.4 and
20.2.1), Texas (2011) (see Sect. 13.3), southern Africa (see Sect. 20.2.1), northeastern Brazil (2012–2017) (see Sect. 20.2.1), Sri Lanka (see Sect. 20.2.1), and the
Murray-Darling River Basin of Australia (see Sect. 20.3.4). In each of these locations, water is critical for energy (typically for power plant cooling) and food production (especially irrigation) as well as direct consumption (which can experience
increased contamination in low flows). Droughts frequently bring siloed interests in
21 Opportunities at the Nexus
sustains and regenerates the biophysical environment. Progressive changes provide
opportunities for rewarding labor, investment, and consumption in the economic
system. Positive opportunities impel and support social systems that are inclusive,
open, equitable, and just in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and age.
In this chapter, we shift from “what is” to “what might be.” We begin by exploring some criteria for identifying real-world challenges that provide greater impetus
and opportunity for applying integrated FEW science to real-world practice. There
is the greatest opportunity for FEW Nexus applications to improve outcomes where
there is a specific combination of scarcity, competition, externalities, and shared
benefits. This often involves the invention of mechanisms for cooperation, reallocation of resources, sharing of private data, transactions across system boundaries,
and the limited but proper role of government and law and, more broadly, the community of science and practice in the FEW nexus. We conclude with a number of
case studies of Nexus work and practice that epitomize the opportunities that exist.
21.2 Situations Favorable to the Application of Nexus
Science to Practice
In Sect. 1.5.2, we noted that certain situations provide greater impetus and opportunity for applying integrated FEW science to real-world practice. We now revisit the
three examples of this in the context of the entire book.
21.2.1 Acute Scarcity of Two or More FEW Commodities
The aphorism “no crisis should go to waste” encapsulates opportunity for significant
change that becomes possible following a natural or man-made catastrophe.
Rebuilding after a storm (e.g., Puerto Rico), or creating new structures of governance
after a war (e.g., the United Nations) are familiar examples. Situations of food, energy,
and water insecurity are also opportunities for change. Scarcity primarily refers to the
physical availability and the physical, legal, and economic access attributes of food,
energy, and water security (see Sect. 3.2). These case studies provide opportunities to
learn from systems approaches to resource management to build resilience.
Droughts are occurring with some frequency. Examples of droughts that have
been noted in this book include California (2011–2017) (see Sects. 11.4.4 and
20.2.1), Texas (2011) (see Sect. 13.3), southern Africa (see Sect. 20.2.1), northeastern Brazil (2012–2017) (see Sect. 20.2.1), Sri Lanka (see Sect. 20.2.1), and the
Murray-Darling River Basin of Australia (see Sect. 20.3.4). In each of these locations, water is critical for energy (typically for power plant cooling) and food production (especially irrigation) as well as direct consumption (which can experience
increased contamination in low flows). Droughts frequently bring siloed interests in
21 Opportunities at the Nexus