Context
The issues of water, energy and food security, and their interrelationship gained heightened international attention during the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012. They now play a major role in formulating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and preparations for the HABITAT III Conference, which is to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016.
Objective
Approach
The project focuses on the topics of secure water supply and sanitation systems, energy security and efficiency, land use, and food security.
The consulting process involves political stakeholders at all three levels. The project supports its partners in designing, planning and implementing practically oriented nexus pilot projects. It also feeds its experiences it gains into a regional dialogue and learning platform.
The local and regional activities take place in the following partner cities and countries:
- Ulan Bator, Mongolia (1,200,000 inhabitants)
- Rizhao, China (2,880,000 inhabitants)
- Weifang/Binhai Development Zones, China (9,000,000 and 1,000,000 inhabitants respectively)
- Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand (180,000 inhabitants)
- Chiang Mai, Thailand (150,000 inhabitants)
- Da Nang, Viet Nam (900,000 inhabitants)
- Pekanbaru and Tanjungpinang in Indonesia (1,000,000 and 230,000 inhabitants respectively)
- Naga City and Santa Rosa, Philippines (180,000 and 330,000 inhabitants respectively)
Results
Some 14 practically oriented nexus pilot projects (known as ‘case studies’) have been identified in the Nexus partner cities.
Peer-to peer learning has strengthened the South-South dialogue, resulting in innovative, adapted, environmentally friendly and financially feasible solid waste management concepts, which convert waste into energy.
Decision makers at various levels are now aware of how significant integrated, cross-sectoral resource management, public consultations and private sector involvement are for the creation of resilient cities.