262 In cases of maximizing water reserves and water security is the goal, SC4 should be the preferred choice This scenario is also an optimal choice from the consideration of improving food security I[.]
262 In cases of maximizing water reserves and water security is the goal, SC4 should be the preferred choice This scenario is also an optimal choice from the consideration of improving food security In contrast, the worst choice for water security would be SC2 It is because of the adverse impacts of energy-oriented policies of SC2 which disregard cross-sectoral impacts on water streams, water consumption and pollution of underground water for maximizing power generation capacity As shown in Table 7-8 and Table 7-9 below, SC6 is the most suitable scenario for Vietnam over the period 2014–2030 This scenario enables the country to simultaneously maximize economic growth, employment opportunities, and energy-water-food securities It also underscores the fact that the continuation of existing policy dynamics (i.e the continuation of current trends in SC1) will result in the worst outcomes in all aspects of social-economic progress, resulting in the lowest total increase in GDP, employment growth rates, and improving highest negative environmental impacts, and least secure levels of food, water and energy securities While SC2, SC3, SC4, and SC5 each have their own advantages, these scenarios will result in unbalanced outcomes because they each focus on one particular aspect only As discussed earlier, while the energy-food-water nexus is one of various growth approaches, not all governments and policy makers actively exploit this approach Major barriers to the adoption of the nexus concept is the complexity of integrating various consideration and harnessing the synergies between sectors The nexus approach also requires a change in the understanding and mind-set, and thus takes time As demonstrated this Chapter, energy-food-water nexus approaches (SC5 and SC6) are likely to be the most advanced and require the least trade-offs in term of energy, food, and water security, as well as socio-economic prospects Furthermore, this approach enhances the possibility of mobilizing available financial and management resources, especially from domestic and global private sectors The turn towards nexus approach— or the energy-food-water nexus approach employed in this research, in particular—is thus inevitable and should be embraced by the Vietnamese government 7.4 Discussion and Conclusions The outcomes of social, economic and environment activities, as well as of energy, food, and water security, vary across the alternative scenarios There is no ideal scenario offering a solution to all problems Rather, it is a matter of context and priorities The Vietnamese government and policy makers will consider trade-offs across various scenarios to balance the gains and losses from a long-term perspective while promoting one particular policy pathway or scenario