Environmental Governance, Urban Sustainability, and Adaptation Strategies: The Nexus of Food—Water—Energy

ABSTRACT The concepts of adapting to changing climate, urban sustainability, and environmental governance have become increasingly significant in policy and ecological research due to the serious challenges climate change presents to urban areas. However, the criteria for promoting climate‐resilient environmental governance and urban sustainability in relation to the Food—Water—Energy (FWE) nexus, are still unclear. Hence, this study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of available research to explore the complex relationships among FWE systems, with a particular focus on adaptation to climate change, strengthening urban sustainability, and fortifying environmental governance. For this purpose, the study conducted a thorough search of academic databases from 2000 to 2022 as part of a systematic literature review. The conclusive search yielded a total of 100 original articles sourced from diverse global regions (i.e., Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas). The terms used in this review were combined with “environmental management,” “adaptation and mitigation,” and “environmental sustainability.” The findings highlighted that, despite the emphasis on governance mechanisms and participatory approaches, wide implementation gaps remain a significant concern in climate adaptation. While some cities demonstrate promising governance innovations, many others face serious obstacles rooted in poor coordination, political decision‐making, and lack of sustained financial or political commitment. Therefore, effective environmental governance is crucial in solving the challenges posed by changing climate as well as promoting the sustainability of city districts, which needs serious attention from policymakers and planners.