Advancing the nexus agenda for a sustainable future

McCartney, M.; Ringler, C. 2024. Advancing the nexus agenda for a sustainable future. Newsletter, December 2024. Montpellier, France: CGIAR.

As we conclude three years of impactful work under the NEXUS Gains initiative, we reflect on the significant progress made in advancing the integration of water, energy, food, and environmental (WEFE) systems. Through collaboration with local communities, governments, NGOs, private sector, and academia, we have demonstrated how integrated solutions can enhance resilience, promote sustainability, and address some of the most pressing environmental challenges.

Over the past three years, recognition of the need for nexus solutions has grown significantly, with key milestones for NEXUS Gains including discussions at three interlinked COPs: biodiversity, climate change, and desertification, and support to the recent IPBES nexus assessment. There has been a growing consensus that sustainable solutions to complex global challenges can only be achieved through coordinated action across sectors and scales. Nexus thinking is gaining momentum among development organizations and governments, who are increasingly recognizing that siloed approaches are inadequate for addressing the interconnected nature of real-world challenges.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce the transition to Nexus Policy Gains within the broader CGIAR Policy Innovation Science Program, starting in January 2025. This next phase will focus on translating the research from NEXUS Gains into actionable policies, ensuring that integrated solutions become central to sustainable development and resource management strategies at local, national, and global levels.