Operationalizing the Urban NEXUS: Towards Resource-efficient and Integrated Cities and Metropolitan Regions

Cross-sectoral collaboration and breaking down operational “silos” is key to more sustainable resource use in cities. The Urban NEXUS approach offers a roadmap for urban policymakers and planners to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration through synergies in water, energy, and food/land systems. This report illustrates the conceptual foundation of the Urban NEXUS approach, provides guidance on its operationalization, and offers forward-looking recommendations for stakeholders.

This study was undertaken by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability in cooperation with and commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Sector Project “Sustainable Development of Metropolitan Regions” – on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).