Water, Energy and Food Nexus Interventions: Implications for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Malawi
Journal Title: Journal of Environmental Law & Policy - Year 2021, Vol 1, Issue 02
Abstract
Malawi faces mounting challenges in meeting the growing demand for food, water, and energy to satisfy the needs of a rapidly growing population. Relying on secondary data, the paper argues that while the existing policy initiatives have increased food production to a certain extent, the demand for water and energy has also increased, leading to degradation of the resource base, and contributing to an increase in water-related diseases. Despite the inherent interconnections between water, energy and food production, agencies often work in a fragmented and isolated way. Poor sectoral coordination and institutional fragmentation have triggered the unsustainable use of resources and threatened the long-term sustainability of food, water, and energy security in the country, posing challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country. Consequently, this paper substantiates that a nexus approach can enhance understanding of the interconnectedness of the sectors and strengthen coordination among them. However, it requires but it requires a major shift in the decision-making process towards taking a holistic view, and development of institutional mechanisms to coordinate the actions of diverse actors and strengthen complementarities and synergies among the three sectors. The framework for cross-sectoral coordination and managing the nexus challenges is also suggested.
Authors and Affiliations
Ngozi Finette Unuigbe; Aizenose Promise Ehizojie
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP698005
- DOI 10.33002/jelp01.02.01
- Views 119
- Downloads 0
Exploring the Lessons of the Kimberley Process for Climate Change Action
There has been a great deal of academic discourse about policy and governance choices embedded in the UNFCCC-based regimes for Climate Change action, and they point to the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of such regimes...
Water, Energy and Food Nexus Interventions: Implications for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Malawi
Malawi faces mounting challenges in meeting the growing demand for food, water, and energy to satisfy the needs of a rapidly growing population. Relying on secondary data, the paper argues that while the existing policy...
Examining the Effects of Internal Armed Conflict on the Nigerian Environment and the Response of Government
The incidences of armed conflicts in the North-East of Nigeria and the Niger Delta have left a lot of devastation on the environment and the livelihood of civilians. The paper notes that the Niger Delta conflict resulted...
Prospects and Challenges to Prove Environmental Harm in Litigation: Status Quo In Nigeria
Environmental litigation and enforcement of environmental rights remain a global challenge to sustainability, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. The increasing rates of industrial activities have led to...
International Law Application to Transboundary Pollution: Solutions to Mitigate Mining Contamination in the ElkâKootenai River Watershed
The Elk Valley is home to five of the six largest mines in British Columbia, with ongoing plans for further expansion. These headwater coal mines have contributed to selenium pollution in the freshwater ecosystems of the...