摘要：Water and energy are each recognized as indispensable inputs to modern economies. And, in recent years, drivenby the three imperatives of security of supply, sustainability, and economic efficiency, the energy and water sectors haveundergone rapid reform. However, it is when water and energy rely on each other that the most complex challenges are posedfor policymakers. Despite the links and the urgency in both sectors for security of supply, in existing policy frameworks, energyand water policies are developed largely in isolation from one another—a degree of policy fragmentation that is seeing erroneousdevelopments in both sectors. Examples of the trade-offs between energy and water security include: the proliferation ofdesalination plants and interbasin transfers to deal with water scarcity; extensive groundwater pumping for water supplies; first-generation biofuels; the proliferation of hydropower plants; decentralized water supply solutions such as rainwater tanks; andeven some forms of modern irrigation techniques. Drawing on case studies from Australia, Europe, and the United States, thisSpecial Issue attempts to develop a comprehensive understanding of the links between energy and water, to identify wherebetter-integrated policy and management strategies and solutions are needed or available, and to understand where barriers existto achieve that integration. In this paper we draw out some of the themes emerging from the Special Issue, and, particularly,where insights might be valuable for policymakers, practitioners, and scientists across the many relevant domains
关键词：energy policy; energy–water nexus; integrated planning; policy integration; water policy
