An Introduction and Overview to Building Water, Energy, and Food Security in the Pacific Using a Nexus Approach

The Pacific is not on track to achieve any of the SDGs by 2030 with major progress needed across each of the environmental, societal, and economical realms. Progress towards certain SDGs should not come at the expense of others and adding further complexity, new methodology are now also being developed to meet more recent national targets under the 2050 Paris Agreement net zero greenhouse gas emission aspirations. A water, energy, food (WEF) nexus approach provides a framework with which to increase the security of each of the three sectors, underpinned by a healthy environment and recognizes the role and need for functioning ecological services. The blue carbon market offers a particularly well-suited opportunity for the Pacific to combine sound environmental stewardship with economic opportunity and follow-on societal benefits. This unique ‘blue continent’ of islands and archipelagos spread across the Pacific Ocean requires a regional-specific consideration of the WEF nexus often overlooked as part of the larger ‘Asia–Pacific’. However, applying a WEF nexus approach in the Pacific is not a one-size-fits all undertaking. Discussed in chapter-specific detail in this volume, it requires country- or territory-specific consideration of existing water resources, food systems, energy needs, and traditional knowledge while addressing challenges from anthropogenic climate change, human population growth, and ever-increasing demands for resource consumption.