Navigating the Water-Energy-Food-Environment nexus for climate resilient and inclusive futures

Following the ‘The Nexus in action: navigating the Water‑Energy‑Food‑Environment nexus for climate‑resilient and inclusive futures’ Frontiers symposium, seed funding was awarded to eight teams of symposium delegates working across disciplines and borders to deliver practical and context‑sensitive solutions.

The symposium showed that solutions to water, energy, food, and environmental challenges are most effective when co‑created with local communities, grounded in real needs, and informed by evidence and inclusive, accountable data sharing. Across the awarded projects, teams combined technical innovation with participatory approaches – from digital tools to youth‑led mapping – ensuring local perspectives informed decision‑making and strengthened capacity.

Together, the projects reflect the symposium’s focus on joined‑up systems and demonstrate how solutions can generate impacts across water, energy, food, and the environment.

This project addressed urgent urban planning and sustainability challenges in Irbid, Jordan, where environmental pressures and resource scarcity are growing. Recognising the interdependence of water, energy, food, and ecosystems, a Jordan–UK team developed a digital twin prototype that integrates geospatial data, remote sensing, and community insights.

The tool enables simulations of infrastructure stress and WEFE Nexus interactions under changing climate and urban conditions. Developed through participatory methods – including GIS mapping, stakeholder interviews and local workshops – it is grounded in lived experience as well as technical evidence. Beyond the funded phase, the project has continued to inform discussions on sustainable urban planning, digital innovation and inclusive resilience. It demonstrates the lasting value of combining digital tools with community engagement in vulnerable urban contexts.

More information on the project: 

This project explored affordable, innovative and net‑positive housing solutions to address pressing housing challenges across the Global South. A multidisciplinary team developed a framework that combines modern construction methods, circular economy principles and decentralised WEFE systems. Applying the comprehensive framework, the team designed housing tailored to local climates and living conditions in South Africa and Jordan. And shared the designs on an open‑source platform, encouraging communities and practitioners to explore the models, share feedback and encourage wider adoption.

The project was built on strong interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together architects, engineers, environmental scientists and social researchers to design housing solutions that go beyond sustainability, generating more environmental and socio-economic value than they consume.

• Sustainable, innovative, affordable and net-positive housing (SIAH-NP)
• A critical success factor framework for implementing net-positive housing in WEFE Nexus: Insights from Jordan and South Africa
  
• Digital technology projects to strengthen refugee resilience in Jordan conclude

• Community mapping of the WEFE nexus within refugee camps in Jordan 
• Al Baqaa Co-Mapping Film

• Innovative workshop explores circular food and energy systems in Jordan
• Green nexus: piloting circular food and energy systems in Jordan

Jordan’s water scarcity poses growing risks to the agricultural sector, with potential adverse impacts on national food security. In response to this challenge, the project team established a controlled environment agriculture unit powered by photovoltaic panels and integrated with a hydroponic system. The CEA unit was implemented in Jordan by the Royal Scientific Society team, with full technical support from partners at the University of Plymouth and the University of West London. Online monitoring cameras were used to collect and transmit images to the UK team, who conducted crop analysis using AI modelling and machine learning tools.

The results show that photovoltaic energy can reliably support controlled environment agriculture in Jordan, delivering comparable crop quality and yields while improving resource efficiency.

In dust‑prone regions, the build‑up on solar panels can significantly reduce energy output, and traditional water‑based cleaning methods increase pressure on scarce water resources. This project explored an innovative, water‑free, energy‑efficient cleaning approach using piezoelectric films and nanocoatings. Testing showed that piezoelectric films can remove up to 90% of non‑adhesive dust within 60 seconds. To improve performance against fine or moisture‑affected dust, a nanocoating was added that repels water and converts sunlight into heat, helping to prevent fogging and freezing.

The next phase will combine vibrational cleaning with nanocoating technology into a fully self‑cleaning system that saves water and maximises solar energy generation, with potential applications beyond solar panels, including autonomous vehicles and security systems.

The project investigated the profound impact of Yemen's ongoing conflict on water and food security, with a focus on availability, accessibility, affordability, and quality. Conducted by an interdisciplinary team from the UK, Jordan and Yemen, the study employed a mixed-methods approach. 

Its findings and recommendations serve as a critical guide for stakeholders working on rehabilitation, resilience-building, and sustainable resource management in conflict-affected regions. Additionally, the project created a unique platform for dialogue among diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, humanitarian agencies, international organisations, and local actors.