1. Understanding „the nexus“ in the MENA region Holger Hoff Stockholm Environment Institute Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Beirut, 22 January 2013

3. Why a nexus approach? „Resource squeeze“ increasing demand overexploitation degradation climate change -> business as usual is not an option need for innovations to: increase resource use efficiencies reduce environmental pressures and support a green economy

4. What is a nexus approach? General principles: generating synergies, reducing negative externalities, negotiating tradeoffs, and strengthening resilience – robust adaptation, transformation - integrated water resource management (IWRM) - integrated coastal zone management -landscape approach -ecosystem based approach -multi-functional systems -etc. The nexus approach doesn‘t start from one particular sector, but provides a level playing field and platform across sectors What‘s new ?

5. Nexus scheme waterland energy import dependency CO 2 emissions water, energy & food security building resilience pollution flooding erosion, biodiversity loss a nexus approach for reducing negative externalities & generating co-benefits water storage carbon storage bioenergy solar desal

6. Nexus implementation – building blocks 3) economic cost-benefits analysis additional transaction costs vs. efficiency gains & economic incentives e.g. REDD+, PES 1) nexus baseline assessment: data harmonization, compilation, and exchange across sectors 5) strengthening „bridging institutions“ 4) communication across sectors, e.g. via nexus platform e.g. River Basin Authority, inter-ministerial committee…. 2) integrated (participatory) scenario analysis: nexus tools 6) making a case for implementation

7. demonstrating win-win opportunities / benefits / tradeoffs across sectors example: Blue Nile / Lake Tana nexus assessment food production energy generation lake level discharge reduction Nexus tools

8. used in National Communications to UNFCCC used in National Water Sector Strategy Nexus tools

9. How to apply the nexus concept ? e.g. soil and water conservation or conservation agriculture for improved soil water productivity, reduced irrigation demand, climate mitigation / adaptation / resilience climate-safe and water-smart land use (and urban) planning accounting for change in precipitation, sea level rise etc. adding energy to the equation: e.g. improving energy efficiency in agriculture (pumping) moving towards renewable energy energy recovery from wastewater treatment „seeing is believing“ – a nexus case study at the farm level

10. A nexus case study from Jordan problem: rapid aquifer depletion for irrigation and urban demands solar farming (photovoltaics) as income alternative for local farmers reducing water demand AND fossil fuel demand for pumping climate change mitigation / adaptation / increased drought resilience participatory process through the Highland Water Forum Solar energy farming in the Azraq Basin ACCWaM

11. Storage – a nexus solution (?) Water storage Energy storage Food storage bridging spatio-temporal variability: seasonal precipitation (and quick runoff) variability in wind, solar insolation, hydropower or population concentrations

12. Water storage – a wide spectrum McCartney 2010

13. multi-functional reservoirs for hydropower and irrigation Storage – a nexus solution (?) hill water storage allowing gravity water feeding –> reduced energy demand groundwater storage possibly also for reducing seawater intrusion and subsequent loss of agricultural productivity improved soil water storage, reduced irrigation demand, and co-benefits in land productivity

14. Sivakumar et al. 2013 Lebanon is still in a relatively good position (in MENA) forest cover….

15. Economic Water Productivity, World Bank 2011 Lebanon is still in a relatively good position (in MENA) poverty….

16. use that for pro-actively addressing critical trends, as an alternative to more costly re-active or emergeny measures start from win-wins (e.g. wastewater treatment and energy recovery) search for innovations (e.g. solar farming, solar desalination) strengthen diversity (e.g. in storage) build on existing initiatives and tools (e.g. Strategic Env. Asssessments) coordinate across sectors and promote bridging institutions (e.g. CCCU) use and add value to opportunities („mainstreaming“) integrate science (e.g. LARI, CNRS) Lebanon is still in a relatively good position (in MENA)