Sustainable development on the basis of the WEF nexus in arid coastal areas for climate change mitigation: Case study of Rabia community in Matrouh, Egypt

Abstract

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is an interdisciplinary approach to address the transdisciplinary issues of developing a specific area with limited resources. We studied the potential of implementing the WEF model in the Rabia region located at Matrouh Governorate in Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea, to introduce sustainable management solutions for the limited resources in this area. The Rabia community lacks any source of water services and is not connected to the electric grid. It depends on existing wells that harvest rainwater for potable and non-potable purposes. The introduced WEF nexus scheme is based on the available resources in Rabia region to produce the required water for drinking, cultivation, and other purposes in addition to maximizing the productivity of water. It also provided renewable energy resources and food security in the area. The proposal also empowers women and provides job opportunities for the community, in addition to reducing carbon emissions to contribute to the efforts fighting climate change. This work will benefit policymakers, investors, and the local community to take tangible actions toward sustainable development in the region and other similar communities in arid coastal regions. The proposed scheme will save about 52 % of the required electricity and 54 % of the carbon emissions, through the use of renewable energy sources. It produces 2,096 t/yr of crops. It supports the achievement of many sustainable development goals and will promote the achievement of Egypt's National Vision 2030.