Integrating Knowledge for Sustainability: Innovations at the Food–Energy–Water Nexus and Beyond
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: transboundary water; system dynamics; WEF nexus; sustainability; climate change; water management
Interests: climate change; WEF nexus; agricultural water management; agricultural disaster (flood, drought); ICT/AI/big data
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue, titled “Integrating Knowledge for Sustainability: Innovations at the Food–Energy–Water Nexus and Beyond”, seeks to address the urgent need to understand and manage the deeply interconnected systems of food, energy, and water in the face of accelerating climate change. While the inherent interdependencies of the FEW nexus are well-recognized, climate change introduces a new layer of complexity and uncertainty, acting as a “stress multiplier” that threatens resource security and sustainable development. A siloed approach to these vital sectors is no longer tenable.
This issue will move beyond general discussions to explore the specific, critical intersections at which climate change directly challenges the stability of the FEW nexus. We invite contributions that examine how climatic shifts—such as altered precipitation patterns, prolonged droughts, extreme weather events, and rising temperatures—are creating cascading effects across these domains. For instance, water scarcity driven by climate change directly constrains both agricultural output (food) and hydropower generation (energy), while the energy sector’s adaptation strategies, such as increased reliance on cooling or desalination, place further stress on water and energy resources.
We particularly encourage submissions that present innovative and tangible solutions. These include advancements in technology, policy, governance, and management that not only enhance efficiency but also build systemic resilience. The goal is to foster robust systems that can withstand climatic shocks, reduce trade-offs, and create powerful synergies that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We welcome original research, case studies, and critical reviews focusing on themes such as the following:
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Technology: Innovations in water management, climate-smart agriculture, and resilient energy grids.
- Governance and Policy Integration: Frameworks for cross-sectoral collaboration that explicitly integrate climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into nexus management.
- Modeling and Forecasting: Advanced predictive models that forecast the combined impacts of climate scenarios on FEW systems to inform decision-making.
By sharing lessons learned from diverse global initiatives, this Special Issue aims to underscore the critical importance of integrated, climate-informed decision-making. We seek to build a body of knowledge that will empower researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to collaboratively forge a sustainable and resource-secure future for all.
Dr. Sang-Hyun Lee
Dr. Seung-Hwan Yoo
Dr. Syewoon Hwang
Guest Editors
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. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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
- food–energy–water nexus
- climate change
- sustainability
- innovations
- integrated management
- knowledge integration
- resource security
- cross-sectoral
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