Review on climate change impacts on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the North-Eastern Italian Alps

Abstract Mountains, such as the Trentino region in the North-Eastern Italian Alps, are highly vulnerable to climate change. Their intricate topography amplifies the interaction between local atmospheric processes and regional-scale dynamics, adding complexity to the assessment of climate impacts. To devise effective adaptation strategies, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the environmental and socio-economic sectors most affected in these distinctive mountain landscapes. This study explores the most significant documented impacts of climate change on the sectors within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in Trentino. It highlights their interconnections and the critical knowledge gaps that must be addressed to comprehensively understand the Nexus. The main aim is to provide a solid scientific basis for identifying high-priority climate risks in the region and to craft the most appropriate adaptation strategies. Our findings reveal that regarding individual sectors in Trentino, most studies focus on Ecosystems, followed by Water and Food. The least studied sector is Energy. Regarding the NEXUS, the Water Sector exhibits the majority of interconnections with other components. While the impacts of climate change on individual sectors have been analyzed to varying degrees, the strong interconnections between these sectors remain largely unexplored with important missing interconnections mainly between Energy and Food, and Energy and Ecosystems, as well as a comprehensive consideration of the impacts of energy on water and food on ecosystems.