18 Developing a Framework for the Water-Energy …
421
3.2 A Proposed South African-Based WEF Nexus
Framework
Figure 8 is a schematic of a proposed WEF nexus framework for South Africa based
on the criteria Africa used to select the top five WEF nexus frameworks delineated
in Sect. 2.
The work by Smajgl et al. (2016), Ringler et al. (2013), and Karabulut et al.
(2018), in conjunction with the work by Hoff (2011), was built upon to design
the WEF nexus framework for South Africa. Figure 8 illustrates the vital drivers of
change and the biggest challenges facing the country Africa, strongly influencing the
WEF nexus. It also illustrates that with proper policies, strategies, and the consideration of alternative clean, renewable options, vastly improved human well-being and
environmental sustainability can be achieved. The framework developed for South
Africa puts emphasis on SDGs 2, 6, and 7, describing drivers and feedback among
these sectors. Direct and indirect drivers of change, which affect these linkages, are
also illustrated in the framework (Fig. 8).
3.3 Potential Indices, Metrics, and Models for Evaluating
the WEF Nexus
It is imperative to define the priorities, aims, scale of application, and data availability
in order to effectively adopt the WEF nexus framework in South Africa (Endo et al.
2017). No one approach is applicable to all situations and the suitability of a given
framework or methodology will vary in response to the aims, priorities, and scale
of application, from global to local. As one would expect, data requirements and
needs for their aggregation and analysis will increase as one move from local to
global scale. Likewise, required tools and models increase in complexity from local
to global scale (Zhang et al. 2018).
To accurately model and assess the WEF nexus, it is useful to generate data that
quantifies flows of energy and materials, makes numerical predictions, and estimates
the associated costs (Keairns et al. 2016). When developing or considering models
to guide data generation, it is important to restrict scope to the relevant aspects of the
WEF nexus to eliminate complexity, but to be aware of risks associated with these
omissions and to develop assumptions associated with these risks. All stakeholders
must contribute to the assessment process, which will inevitably require trade-offs
between indicator-based assessments and quantitative approaches (Keairns et al.
2016).
421
3.2 A Proposed South African-Based WEF Nexus
Framework
Figure 8 is a schematic of a proposed WEF nexus framework for South Africa based
on the criteria Africa used to select the top five WEF nexus frameworks delineated
in Sect. 2.
The work by Smajgl et al. (2016), Ringler et al. (2013), and Karabulut et al.
(2018), in conjunction with the work by Hoff (2011), was built upon to design
the WEF nexus framework for South Africa. Figure 8 illustrates the vital drivers of
change and the biggest challenges facing the country Africa, strongly influencing the
WEF nexus. It also illustrates that with proper policies, strategies, and the consideration of alternative clean, renewable options, vastly improved human well-being and
environmental sustainability can be achieved. The framework developed for South
Africa puts emphasis on SDGs 2, 6, and 7, describing drivers and feedback among
these sectors. Direct and indirect drivers of change, which affect these linkages, are
also illustrated in the framework (Fig. 8).
3.3 Potential Indices, Metrics, and Models for Evaluating
the WEF Nexus
It is imperative to define the priorities, aims, scale of application, and data availability
in order to effectively adopt the WEF nexus framework in South Africa (Endo et al.
2017). No one approach is applicable to all situations and the suitability of a given
framework or methodology will vary in response to the aims, priorities, and scale
of application, from global to local. As one would expect, data requirements and
needs for their aggregation and analysis will increase as one move from local to
global scale. Likewise, required tools and models increase in complexity from local
to global scale (Zhang et al. 2018).
To accurately model and assess the WEF nexus, it is useful to generate data that
quantifies flows of energy and materials, makes numerical predictions, and estimates
the associated costs (Keairns et al. 2016). When developing or considering models
to guide data generation, it is important to restrict scope to the relevant aspects of the
WEF nexus to eliminate complexity, but to be aware of risks associated with these
omissions and to develop assumptions associated with these risks. All stakeholders
must contribute to the assessment process, which will inevitably require trade-offs
between indicator-based assessments and quantitative approaches (Keairns et al.
2016).