THE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

The report examines the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting how the region's reliance on natural resources creates critical trade-offs. It argues that while LAC is resource-abundant, fragmented governance and climate change threaten security. The document proposes a framework for action based on infrastructure, information, institutions, and investment to transition toward climate-compatible development.

• Hydropower is a dominant but vulnerable energy source in LAC, providing approximately 65% of electricity generation and 11% of total energy generation. Its reliability is threatened by climate change-induced changes in rainfall and the prevalence of run-of-river dams, which are more susceptible to drought than reservoir dams.
• Agriculture is the primary driver of deforestation in Latin America, accounting for approximately 70% of forest loss. This deforestation undermines water security by disrupting ecosystem services such as rainfall recycling, which is critical for the 'flying rivers' that transport moisture from Amazonia to the La Plata Basin.
• Water governance in the region is characterized by high fragmentation and a lack of vertical coordination. In some countries, the number of central authorities involved in water policymaking is significant, ranging from 4 in Argentina to 13 in Peru and 12 in Chile.
• The region faces severe spatial and temporal asymmetries in water availability. For example, the Peruvian Amazon contains 97.5% of the country's surface water but supports less than 30% of its population, while economic activity is concentrated on the coast.
• Latin America is a global leader in Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Water Funds. Examples include the Socio Bosque programme in Ecuador and the Latin America Water Funds Partnership, which is capitalised by USD 27 million to support 32 water funds.
• Biofuel production is expanding rapidly, with LAC producing 27% of global biofuels. This growth creates potential trade-offs where biofuel crops may compete with food crops for land and water resources.
• Urbanisation is a critical challenge, with 80% of the population living in cities, a figure expected to reach 90% by 2050. Many major cities, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Lima, and Caracas, must transfer water from neighbouring basins to meet demand.
• Climate change is projected to cause temperature increases of 1.6–4°C in Central America and 1.7–6.7°C in South America by the end of the century, impacting water availability and agricultural productivity.
• Economic instruments such as subsidies often promote resource inefficiency. In Mexico, electricity subsidies for pumping groundwater encourage over-extraction and lead to the degradation of aquifers.

APA

H., B. (2015). THE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Water-Energy-Food-Nexus-in-LAC-April-2015.pdf

Chicago

H., Bellfield,. THE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2015. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Water-Energy-Food-Nexus-in-LAC-April-2015.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=H. |first1=Bellfield, |title=THE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2015 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Water-Energy-Food-Nexus-in-LAC-April-2015.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{h2015waterenergyfood, author = {H., Bellfield,}, title = {{THE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2015}, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Water-Energy-Food-Nexus-in-LAC-April-2015.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }