Session on Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus & Smart Policy Integration

Track Chairs: Kristina Wencki (IWW), Dimitris Xevgenos (TUDELFT) - CIRSEAU

The "Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus & Smart Policy Integration" session will explore innovative approaches to resource management and sustainable policymaking, emphasizing the critical need for aligning water, energy, food, and ecosystem services within a circular economy framework. Presentations will highlight successful initiatives and solutions that demonstrate effective and straightforward implementation of existing legislation while showcasing how clean tech development, circular economy practices, and digitalization can transform the water sector. A panel of experts-including policymakers, water operators, and industry leaders-will discuss challenges and opportunities in ensuring resilience, water and food security, and the practical integration of policies that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key topics will include overcoming institutional silos, fostering cross-sector collaboration, building on the legacy of the European Green Deal and advancing contributions to the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal. The session will conclude with an engaging discussion on the way forward, including potential contributions to a white paper or policy brief supporting the CIRSEAU initiative and offering actionable strategies for accelerating sustainable resource management.

Session on Sustainability Impact Assessment & Smart Decision-Making

Track Chairs: Herman Helness (SINTEF) - CIRSEAU

The "Sustainability Impact Assessment & Smart Decision-Making" session will explore how to translate sustainability research into actionable strategies for practitioners. The first segment hour will feature scientific presentations on frameworks and tools for assessing sustainability impacts and guiding decision-making. The second segment will focus on the implications of these insights, delving into the decision rules and procedures that public and private companies use to evaluate sustainability solutions. Panelists and participants will address pressing questions, such as how to choose between alternative investments, balance costs and risks, and operationalize holistic sustainability assessments. By integrating diverse perspectives from researchers and practitioners, the session aims to illuminate pathways for applying scientific knowledge to real-world sustainability challenges.