Water, Energy, Land and Food (WELF) Nexus: Pathway to Low-Carbon Transition

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Water, Energy, Land and Food (WELF) Nexus".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 2224

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
Interests: energy transition; social impact assessment; social dimensions of climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The interconnectedness of water, energy, land, and food systems forms the foundation of sustainable development; however, these systems face growing pressures from climate change, population growth, and unsustainable resource management. To address these challenges and facilitate a low-carbon transition, the water, energy, land, and food (WELF) nexus approach aims to promote integrated, cross-sectoral strategies for resource efficiency, resilience, and environmental sustainability.

The WELF nexus framework acknowledges that decisions in one sector often impact others, such as water-intensive energy production, land use changes affecting food security, or agricultural practices driving energy demand. The initiative seeks to break down barriers by fostering collaboration across stakeholders—policymakers, industries, communities, and researchers—to balance resource demands, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable systems.

The goal of this Special Issue is to gather together original research articles and review papers that provide valuable insights into the water, energy, land, and food (WELF) nexus as a pathway to achieving a low-carbon transition. This Special Issue aims to address the intricate interdependencies among these critical systems and explore innovative strategies, policies, and technologies that can balance competing resource demands while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability.

We seek contributions that focus on themes related, but not limited to, the following: 

Integrated Resource Management: Studies showcasing methodologies to optimize resource allocation and reduce trade-offs within water, energy, land, and food systems.

Policy and Governance: Research highlighting policy frameworks and governance mechanisms that facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration and support low-carbon development within the WELF nexus.

Technological Innovation: Papers exploring advanced technologies, such as renewable energy solutions, water-efficient irrigation systems, or climate-smart agricultural practices, that enhance resource efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts.

Case Studies and Best Practices: Analyses of successful WELF nexus projects or initiatives that demonstrate scalable, low-carbon solutions in diverse socio-economic and geographical contexts.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Insights into how the WELF nexus approach can strengthen resilience against climate impacts while reducing carbon footprints.

Metrics and Indicators: The development of tools or frameworks to assess and monitor the sustainability, efficiency, and carbon reduction potential of integrated WELF systems.

This Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, encouraging interdisciplinary contributions that advance our understanding of the WELF nexus as a cornerstone of sustainable development and low-carbon transitions. Submissions are expected to provide novel insights, rigorous analyses, or actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers working toward global climate and sustainability goals.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Ruilian Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • energy transition
  • environmental, social, and governance frameworks
  • sustainable development
  • low-carbon transition
  • social impact assessment
  • environmental sustainability

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1111 KiB  
Article
Assessing Policy Consistency and Synergy in China’s Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus for Low-Carbon Transition
by Xiaonan Zhu, Cheng Zhou and Clare Richardson-Barlow
Land 2025, 14(7), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071431 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 474
Abstract
The need for integrated governance of water–energy–land–food (WELF) systems has become paramount in achieving sustainable low-carbon transitions, yet policy consistency across these interdependent sectors remains critically underexplored. This study presents the first systematic assessment of policy consistency and synergy within China’s WELF framework, [...] Read more.
The need for integrated governance of water–energy–land–food (WELF) systems has become paramount in achieving sustainable low-carbon transitions, yet policy consistency across these interdependent sectors remains critically underexplored. This study presents the first systematic assessment of policy consistency and synergy within China’s WELF framework, employing an innovative mixed-methods approach that combines a modified Policy Modeling Consistency (PMC) Index with Content Analysis Methodology (CAM). Policy consistency follows a clear hierarchy: energy (PMC = 9.06, ‘Perfect’), water (8.26, ‘Good’), land (7.03, ‘Acceptable’), and food systems (6.91, ‘Acceptable’), with land–food policies exhibiting critical gaps in multifunctional design. Policy synergy metrics further reveal pronounced sectoral disparities: energy (PS = 0.89) and water (0.81) policies demonstrate strong alignment with central government objectives, whereas land (0.68) and food (0.64) systems exhibit constrained integration capacities due to uncoordinated policy architectures and competing sectoral priorities. Building on these findings, we propose three key interventions: (1) institutional restructuring through the establishment of an inter-ministerial coordination body with binding authority to align WELF sector priorities and enforce consistent and synergy targets, (2) the strategic rebalancing of policy instruments by reallocating fiscal incentives toward nexus-optimizing projects while developing innovative market-based mechanisms for cross-sectoral resource exchange, and (3) adaptive governance implementation through regional policy pilots, dynamic feedback systems, and capacity-building networks to enable context-sensitive WELF transitions while maintaining strategic consistency and synergy. These recommendations directly address the structural deficiencies in WELF governance fragmentation and incentive misalignment identified through our rigorous analysis, while simultaneously advancing theoretical discourse and offering implementable policy solutions for achieving integrated low-carbon transition. Full article
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20 pages, 3309 KiB  
Article
Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus Performance and Regional Inequality Toward Low-Carbon Transition in China
by Qi Yao, Hailin Cao and Ruilian Zhang
Land 2025, 14(7), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071343 - 24 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 400
Abstract
The transition to a low-carbon economy in China necessitates an integrated understanding of the interdependencies within the water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus. This study evaluates the performance of the WELF nexus across Chinese provinces and examines regional disparities that may hinder or facilitate sustainable development [...] Read more.
The transition to a low-carbon economy in China necessitates an integrated understanding of the interdependencies within the water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus. This study evaluates the performance of the WELF nexus across Chinese provinces and examines regional disparities that may hinder or facilitate sustainable development goals. Using a multi-dimensional performance index and spatial econometric analysis, we identified key synergies and trade-offs among resource systems under low-carbon policy scenarios. The results revealed significant regional inequalities in nexus efficiency, with economically developed regions exhibiting higher integration and resource optimization, while less-developed areas face persistent structural challenges. These disparities underscore the need for regionally tailored policy interventions that address localized constraints while promoting cohesive national strategies. Our findings provide critical insights for policymakers aiming to align resource management with China’s climate commitments and sustainable development agenda. Full article
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25 pages, 7891 KiB  
Article
Energy–Environment–Industry Intersection: Rural and Urban Inequity and Approach to Just Transition
by Li Sun, Sitong Wang and Jinqiu Wang
Land 2025, 14(6), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14061161 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 333
Abstract
The intersection of energy, environment, and industry presents distinct challenges and opportunities in rural and urban settings, highlighting disparities in access, impact, and policy effectiveness. This paper examines the systemic inequities between rural and urban regions in the transition to a sustainable energy [...] Read more.
The intersection of energy, environment, and industry presents distinct challenges and opportunities in rural and urban settings, highlighting disparities in access, impact, and policy effectiveness. This paper examines the systemic inequities between rural and urban regions in the transition to a sustainable energy future. It explores how policies and technologies can promote a just transition that ensures equitable economic development, environmental protection, and energy access for all communities. The key findings reveal that the average urban environmental pollution has transitioned from 10.1574 in 2007 to 8.9540 in 2022, indicating an improvement over time. From 2007 to 2022, the average level of rural environmental pollution has transitioned from 15.1123 in 2007 to 14.2675 in 2022, suggesting an improvement in performance over the specified timeframe. This shows that rural environmental pollution (14.8442) is more serious than urban environmental pollution (9.0892), even though rural environmental pollution is constantly improving. Regarding driving factors affecting urban and rural environmental pollution, we illustrate that energy consumption and environmental protection investment are important factors through which environmental regulation influences urban environmental pollution, while only environmental protection investment is an important factor through which environmental regulation influences rural environmental pollution. The findings suggest that only in the western region do stronger environmental regulations significantly reduce urban pollution, while strengthening environmental regulations improves rural pollution across all three regions, with the most pronounced effect in the west. By integrating quantitative and policy analysis, the study proposes inclusive strategies that balance economic resilience, social justice, and environmental sustainability, fostering a fair transition toward a low-carbon future. Full article
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24 pages, 4398 KiB  
Article
Assessing Environmental, Social, and Governance Risks in the Water, Energy, Land, and Food Nexus, Towards a Just Transition to Sustainable Energy in China
by Hongyu Chen and Chen Wang
Land 2025, 14(4), 669; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040669 - 21 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 630
Abstract
The transition to sustainable energy in China is closely intertwined with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks within the water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus. This study examines the complex interdependencies among these resources and evaluates the ESG challenges that may hinder or accelerate the energy [...] Read more.
The transition to sustainable energy in China is closely intertwined with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks within the water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus. This study examines the complex interdependencies among these resources and evaluates the ESG challenges that may hinder or accelerate the energy transition. By integrating policy analysis and quantitative risk assessment, this research identifies key ESG risks, such as water scarcity, land-use conflicts, food security concerns, and social equity issues. The findings highlight the need for holistic governance frameworks and cross-sectoral strategies to mitigate ESG risks while ensuring a resilient and just energy transition. This study provides policy recommendations for aligning energy development with sustainable resource management, contributing to China’s long-term climate and economic goals. Full article
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