21 January 2016: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) highlighted the increased need for water cooperation worldwide, as the National Council on Science and the Environment (NCSE) convened its 16th conference and global forum in Washington DC, US, focusing on the water-energy-food nexus.

The NCSE conference took place from 19-21 January 2016, bringing together around 1,200 participants from science, technology, government, business and civil society organizations to network and exchange information. The nexus approach analyzes development issues taking into account the interactions between food, water and energy systems.

Noting that global water demand worldwide has tripled since 1950, the GEF highlighted changes in its own approach, moving from single to multifocal projects that are funded through a diversity of funds dedicated to climate change, international waters, biodiversity and other areas of work.

Neboisa Nakicenovic, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, called for integrated planning to ensure water, food and energy security, saying that the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the outcome of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UNFCCC in 2015 has given impetus for “a grand transformation” towards a sustainable future.

Under its programme on ‘Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems’ (INFEWS), the NCSE is calling for proposals that will advance understanding of the nexus through quantitative and computational modeling, develop decision support systems, and improve capability for managing nexus issues. Proposals may be submitted in two categories: for projects of US$1-3 million, and for projects of US$1 million or less. The deadline for proposals is 22 March 2016.

The NCSE is a not-for-profit organization in the US that seeks to bridge the science and policy communities, and improve the scientific basis of environmental decision making. [GEF Press Release] [NCSE Conference Web Page] [Call for Proposals]