“We must move away from silo thinking”

Maria J. Santos, a professor at the University of Zurich, is one of the main authors of the comprehensive scientific analysis published this week by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). At a press conference in Bern, Santos, who specializes in Earth system science, presented the Nexus Report, which was adopted on Tuesday in Windhoek, Namibia. The report, authored by 165 experts from 57 countries, analyzes interconnections, future scenarios and options for action surrounding the themes of biodiversity, water, food, health and climate. These five areas have come under immense pressure worldwide due to human activities over the past decades and are targeted by various initiatives and intergovernmental agreements.

Due to their interdependencies, these areas are referred to in the report as Nexus elements, with “nexus” meaning “connection”. The main goal of the report is to highlight the interactions between these areas and propose coordinated approaches to address the challenges. “We must move away from silo thinking and always consider all areas when taking action,” said Santos. A meaningful measure in one area can have negative effects on other areas. For example, offshore wind farms reduce CO₂ emissions but disrupt marine habitats. Likewise, intensive agricultural practices may increase food production but harm soil biodiversity and contaminate groundwater.

The report lists a series of measures, or response options, to sustainably and synergistically manage the five Nexus elements. The authors identified a total of 71 options, divided into 10 fields of action. Some measures positively impact all five elements, such as preserving and replanting forests or protecting mangroves in coastal areas. The One Health approach, which addresses human and animal health as a whole within an ecological framework to prevent new zoonotic diseases, also demonstrates a broadly effective and positive profile in this analysis. Other measures, such as constructing dams or offshore wind farms, are beneficial for individual elements (e.g., irrigation or climate) but have negative effects on the other Nexus areas. “We present various courses of action and analyze their impacts,” said Santos, comparing the catalog to a Swiss Army knife. “It is up to policymakers to choose the most appropriate and equitable options.”

According to the report, the negative trends in the five Nexus areas are the result of a problematic societal value system that prioritizes short-term thinking and private financial gains. Current economic drivers incentivize investments in activities that harm biodiversity and other Nexus elements, causing costs of approximately $7 trillion.

In contrast, only a fraction of this amount—around $200 billion—is spent on improving the state of nature. At the same time, the negative environmental impacts are unevenly distributed: the burdens disproportionately affect populations in developing countries, small island states, and Indigenous groups.

The report also assessed 186 different scenarios from 52 studies that analyzed interactions among three or more Nexus elements, covering timeframes up to 2050 and 2100. Unsurprisingly, the findings showed that under the “business as usual” scenario, the Nexus areas will continue to deteriorate. Similarly, negative consequences are to be expected if the focus is only on one Nexus area. For example, in a “Food-First” approach, food production takes priority, which will improve food security but have adverse effects on biodiversity, water quality and climate change. An exclusive focus on climate change can also negatively impact biodiversity and food security due to land competition. The scenario with the most favorable future projections, named the Nature-oriented Nexus, relies on sustainable production and consumption combined with ecosystem conservation and restoration, reducing pollution and mitigating climate change.

As Maria J. Santos explained at the press conference, which was organized by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), the report will now be shared with as many decision-makers as possible.