Understanding and Conceptualizing How Urban Green Blue Infrastructure Affects the Food, Water, and Energy Nexus: A Synthesis of the Literature

The interactive dynamics in the food, water, and energy system as a nexus (FWEN) are critical to the sustainable development of global cities, which can be mediated by green and blue infrastructure (GBI) in the urban area. Here we provide a comprehensive literature review to examine how GBI affects FWEN in urban centers which is lacking current literature. In order to do this, we undertake a systematic review of the literature using a meta-analytic approach and topic modelling. Based on our synthesis, we develop a conceptual framework of the key links between urban GBI and FWEN and the direction and magnitude of the relationship. We found that GBIs can have positive and negative effects on urban FWEN. The negative effects can and should be addressed by policy making. In cities with different size/income/in different regions, GBIs can have heterogeneous effect on FWEN and should be adapted to specific localized polity targets. Finally, current analysis focuses on isolated analysis, lacking integrated analysis in develop decision making supporting tool which should be addressed in the future research.