1. EO4WEF Community Activity
Richard Lawford/Morgan State University
Charles Vorosmarty/ City College of New York
USA, Germany, Japan, South Africa
FAO, Future Earth, SWFP
Side Event: GEOGLOWS and the Harmonization of GEO Water Activities

2. Mission / Objectives and Goals
EO4WEF
Mission / Objectives and Goals
Objectives:
1)To promote the use of Earth observations within the WEF Nexus and its sectors,
2) To use data as the basis for advancing the joint co-management of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus.
Goals:
To articulate the requirements of the W-E-F Nexus community for Earth Observations and information systems and to document them in a report.
To relate the monitoring needs of the W-E-F Nexus to the appropriate elements of the SDG and GEOGLOWS agenda.

3. EO4WEF Geographical Scope Methodology
Four regional workshops were held and the results of the workshop are being synthesized and analyzed. The workshops were supported by the Belmont Forum.
Project Governance Structure
The SWFP provided oversight of the project. The project co-leads worked with regional logistical and scientific committees to organize the regional workshops. Final report preparation is being done by the project co-leads and volunteers.

4. Significant achievements in 2016-2017
EO4WEF
Significant achievements in
Achievement 1
Development of a draft synthesis report based on four regional workshops (Currently distilling recommendations related to EO, information platforms, and the management of the WEF Nexus.) A US W-E-F Nexus Community has been launched.
Achievement 2
Completion of a matrix assessing the relationship between the targets in SDG 2 (Food), 6 (Water) and 7 (Energy) along with a draft discussion paper on the connections between the W-E-F Nexus and the SDGs.
Achievement 3
A proposal for a collection of papers on the WEF has been accepted by Frontiers Environmental Sciences and, to date, 22 authors have indicated a willingness to submit manuscripts.

5. Observation opportunities and issues identified in the W-E-F Nexus Study
1. A rigorous definition of the W-E-F Nexus is needed as the basis of the design of monitoring programmes.
2. Simple indicators need to be developed as a means of monitoring the WEF Nexus at the country level and to track changes over time. These results could help to inform the SDG reporting requirements.
3. To address regional W-E-F Nexus issues, regional information platforms are needed.
4. Watersheds, basins and areas are needed for case studies on how Earth observations can contribute to joint planning of the W-E-F Nexus actions.
5. W-E-F Nexus implementation could benefit from citizen science – especially if it is linked to Earth observations.
6. Research is needed to link Earth observations and analysis systems for the W-E-F Nexus understanding to economic and governance issues (e.g. trade).

6. Defining the Water –Energy-Food Nexus Relationships
Characterizing the W-E-F Nexus requires a more rigorous definition of the Nexus nomenclature and taxonomy. In addition critical variables need to be defined and measured.
(Higgins)

7. Plans and Deliverables for 2018-2019
EO4WEF
Plans and Deliverables for
2017: Special W-E-F Session at the Fall AGU meeting in New Orleans.
2018: Submission of the final W-E-F Synthesis report to GEO, Belmont Forum and Future Earth.
2018: Peer-reviewed paper on the connections between monitoring for the WEF Nexus and for the SDGs.
2018: Launch of a pilot project on information systems and the WEF Nexus.

8. Plans for cross SBA linkages and SDG support
EO4WEF
Plans for cross SBA linkages and SDG support
Links to other SBAs or initiatives
This project will help to initiate more integration between the Water, Agriculture, and Energy SBAs as well as the Ecosystems/Biodiversity and Health SBAs. It may also provide a basis for enhancing GEOGLOWS W-E-F activities.
Contributions to SDGs
This activity will explore synergies between monitoring for the W-E-F Nexus and the Water, Energy and Food SDGs.
Challenges and Issues:
Obtaining funding and other support for a pilot project to demonstrate the benefits of Integrated Information Platforms for management of the W-E-F Nexus.
GEOGLOWS and the Harmonization of
GEO Water Activities

9. Thank You
Richard Lawford