Water, energy, and land: Where climate adaptation and mitigation policies collide

Water, energy, and food security round out every “top five” list of global challenges. When the three sectors are considered together, and climate change is added in, the interconnections create both conflicts and opportunities. Collisions between these sectors can propagate as a result of shifts in land and water resources, and through policy actions. Policies to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases can conflict with those intended to enhance the adaptive capacity of the water sector, agriculture, and ecosystems. Understanding the nexus among water, energy, and land will inform adaptation and mitigation policies, and avoids unintended, deleterious consequences.