Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Urban Planning

Urban environments are critical hubs where the interconnectedness of water, energy, and food systems forms a complex nexus that is pivotal for sustainability. This nexus is increasingly stressed by factors such as rapid urbanization, population growth, and the impacts of climate change, presenting multifaceted challenges that cities must navigate to sustain their growth and ensure resource equity and environmental resilience. The integration of these interdependent systems presents opportunities for innovation but also requires a nuanced understanding of the barriers to effective management and the potential for technological and strategic advancements.

While research on the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus has grown in recent years, a significant gap remains in its integration within urban planning frameworks. Existing studies often treat these systems in silos, neglecting how spatial planning decisions, zoning regulations, and infrastructure design mediate resource flows and influence cross-sector efficiency. Moreover, the implications of WEF Nexus thinking for inclusive, climate-resilient, and digitally enabled urban planning remain underexplored, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions.

This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the current challenges and innovative solutions in managing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus within urban environments. It seeks to enhance our understanding of how interconnected resource management can contribute to more resilient and sustainable urban landscapes. Special attention will be given to empirical case studies, system modelling approaches, participatory governance innovations, and digital tools that offer scalable solutions for integrated urban planning.

Through rigorous inquiry, we intend to uncover new empirical evidence, promote cutting-edge technological and strategic innovations, and provide actionable recommendations that can guide urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders toward improved sustainability practices. This endeavour aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering concrete insights into how urban design and policy can support nexus-based transitions across diverse city contexts.

To gather further insights in this critical area of urban sustainability, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• The impact of urban planning decisions on the effectiveness of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
• Innovative technological solutions like smart grids and green infrastructure for enhanced resource management
• Case studies on urban agriculture and its role within the nexus
• Policy reforms and new governance models that support integrated resource management
• Theoretical models and predictive analyses to foresee future trends and challenges in the nexus
• Decentralized and Modular Urban Nexus Systems
• Socio-Spatial Nexus Justice
• Behavioral Dynamics and Citizen Participation in WEF Planning
• Circular Economy and Resource Recovery in the Urban Nexus
• Integration of WEF Nexus into Urban Finance and Investment Planning
• Futures Thinking and Urban Nexus Foresight

Contributions may include research articles, review papers, case studies, and policy analysis, shedding light on both the challenges and solutions within the urban Water-Energy-Food Nexus. This Research Topic is expected to ignite discussions, foster collaborations, and inspire further research that propels forward the agenda of sustainable urban resource management.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Systemic thinking, Urban systems, Integrated resource management, Urban sustainability, Nexus governance, cross-sectoral resources, Interdependent resources, Resilience infrastructure, Urban water-energy-food nexus

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.