67 study indicates that as a result of the country’s rapid population growth, current energy and urban water systems have expanded, which has increased the pressure on the existing land and inland wat[.]
67 study indicates that as a result of the country’s rapid population growth, current energy and urban water systems have expanded, which has increased the pressure on the existing land and inland waters used for food production Therefore, sustainable urban development and the efficient management of agricultural land and inland and marine waters are crucial Therefore, the research aims to analyse Ghana’s energy–water–food nexus from 2015 to 2030 by considering impacts on the economy and environment The authors’ key findings indicate the vulnerability of Ghana’s power-generating infrastructure and address the need for diversification in the nation’s supply mix Further, the study’s results also address the application of tariffs and investments in a supporting infrastructure, as agricultural intensification will increase the efficiency of renewable energy and decrease CO2 emissions The authors develop different scenarios that combine significant factors, such as changes in utility demands, technological capabilities, regional usability, and policy-generated economic drivers The study deploys a linear integeroptimisation problem within an integrated decision-making tool to assess the impacts of the potential constraints, damages, and losses caused by climate change The research methodology applied in this study combines sociological modules, agent-based modelling, composite linear optimisation models for technology, and an investment allocation for a policy analysis Generally, this study’s outcomes offer alternative directions for Ghana’s government in planning reviews, controlling operational time of infrastructure generation in the optimisation model, and conducting sensitivity analyses of policy instruments on the energy–food–water nexus Moreover, this research model can be applicable to analyses of different resources, demographics, geography, locations, policies, and economic contexts Despite this contribution, this study did not provide a broader analysis of the policy implications and trade-offs for particular pathways As the energy, food, and water sectors are interconnected, and this connection is even more pronounced under the impacts of climate change, sustainable development policies cannot complete their objectives without a thorough debate on such potential trade-offs Assessment of socio-economic-environmental impacts There have been limited studies analysing socio-economic-environmental impacts of energy-food-water nexus in both short and long-term perspectives Following studies are a few that indicates such approach for a more comprehensive analysis Marsh (2008) analyses the links between water and electricity in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, as these industries have both failed to acknowledge their connections