Keynote Talk: FOOD-Energy-Water and Waste Nexus in Achieving Sustainable Circular Urbandevelopment (SCUD)

Food- Energy and Water Nexus is a complex system that requires additional understanding of the ways in which these three pillars function as an integrated system. For instance, there is energy embedded in every gallon of water, there is water embedded in every kWh (or joule) of energy used and every mile travelled, and there is water and energy embedded in every calorie of food humans consume.
Currently most urban systems deal with energy, water and food matters as separate issues and do not consider the intra-impacts of these sectors when trying to achieve their daily operations. Additionally, urban systems has to deal with ever increasing waste matters, decaying urban infrastructure i.e. energy, transportation, water, housing, and climate change related problems. 21st Century urban systems have to be economically and environmentally sustainable while providing social justice to the residents. In order to transform current old cities to tomorrow’s more efficient urban locations, these locations can be treated as city-labs to create efficient frameworks that include food, energy water, waste and other material flows. FEW nexus can serve as a tool to achieve Sustainable Circular Urban Development (SCUD).