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Nexus approaches to global sustainable development

Nature Sustainability volume 1, pages 466–476 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Many global challenges, though interconnected, have been addressed singly, at times reducing one problem while exacerbating others. Nexus approaches simultaneously examine interactions among multiple sectors. Recent quantitative studies have revealed that nexus approaches can uncover synergies and detect trade-offs among sectors. If well implemented, nexus approaches have the potential to reduce negative surprises and promote integrated planning, management and governance. However, application and implementation of nexus approaches are in their infancy. No studies have explicitly quantified the contributions of nexus approaches to progress toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. To further implement nexus approaches and realize their potential, we propose a systematic procedure and provide perspectives on future directions. These include expanding nexus frameworks that consider interactions among more sectors, across scales, between adjacent and distant places, and linkages with Sustainable Development Goals; incorporating overlooked drivers and regions; diversifying nexus toolboxes; and making these strategies central in policy-making and governance for integrated Sustainable Development Goal implementation.

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Fig. 1: Impacts of nexus approaches on SDGs.
Fig. 2: Five major steps involved in implementing nexus approaches.
Fig. 3: Conceptual framework of nexus approaches (using the food–energy–water nexus as an example) across metacoupled human and natural systems.

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Acknowledgements

Funding from the US National Science Foundation and Michigan AgBioResearch is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Jianguo Liu, Zhenci Xu, Min Gon Chung, Jing Sun & Shuxin Li

  2. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Vanessa Hull

  3. Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    H. Charles J. Godfray

  4. Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    H. Charles J. Godfray

  5. Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA

    David Tilman

  6. Pacific Institute, Oakland, CA, USA

    Peter Gleick

  7. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany

    Holger Hoff

  8. Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Holger Hoff

  9. Institute for Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany

    Claudia Pahl-Wostl

  10. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China

    Jing Sun

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Liu, J., Hull, V., Godfray, H.C.J. et al. Nexus approaches to global sustainable development. Nat Sustain 1, 466–476 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0135-8

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