Identifying leverage points for transformation towards sustainability through the Networks of Action Situations approach combined with systems thinking

In the 21st century, the world´s demand for natural resources is more pressing and deeply interconnected than ever before. The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus has gained growing interest as a promising concept for complex resource management challenges. However, knowledge about the root causes of cross-sectoral coordination problems and how they can be transformed towards sustainability is still lacking. This paper conceptualises a WEF nexus case with the Networks of Action Situations approach combined with systems thinking. This approach allows a deep analysis about the root causes of coordination gaps, facilitates a joint understanding of the system dynamics to identify leverage points for transforming the WEF nexus towards sustainability, and to envision the impact of potential interventions on the network of action situations and its outcome. The study shows how the Network of Action Situations approach can be mobilized in combination with systems thinking to understand and support the transformative potential of complex resource systems. The value and the reciprocal benefits of the combined approach introduced is illustrated for a case in Switzerland, Europe. The results show a coordination gap between the different sectors and that not all sectors were considered equally. This leads to a prioritization of energy production over water-bound biodiversity and food production. The root causes for this outcome are a focus to mitigate climate change and an awareness for biodiversity but much less awareness for impacts of climate change on Swiss water bodies. The study identifies five deep leverage points for transformation, which are expected to ensure a shared systemic problem understanding and a more balanced coordination between different sectors resulting in sustainable and equitable provision and utilization of WEF resources.