Beyond the silos: a global evidence synthesis of biodiversity, water, food, health and climate nexus interactions
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Healthy, resilient ecosystems depend on biodiversity to provide ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being. However, unsustainable human activities have driven biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change, generating cascading impacts on water, food, and health systems. As part of the IPBES Nexus Assessment, we reviewed 1,962 articles and identified 84 that explicitly addressed biodiversity and at least three other nexus elements. Across these studies, we documented 477 interactions, including 188 positive synergies, 148 negative synergies, and 141 trade-offs. Human health was the least represented nexus element
and was largely treated as an outcome rather than a driver. Biodiversity emerged as foundational to positive synergies across the nexus, while climate change drove mutual losses and food production generated multiple trade-offs. These findings highlight the need for integrated policies that simultaneously conserve biodiversity, transform food systems, and address climate change to generate co-benefits for water, food, and human health.
and was largely treated as an outcome rather than a driver. Biodiversity emerged as foundational to positive synergies across the nexus, while climate change drove mutual losses and food production generated multiple trade-offs. These findings highlight the need for integrated policies that simultaneously conserve biodiversity, transform food systems, and address climate change to generate co-benefits for water, food, and human health.
Date Issued
2026-08-01
Date Acceptance
2026-07-05
Citation
iScience, 2026, 29 (8)
ISSN
2589-0042
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
iScience
Volume
29
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. 1 This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
10.1016/j.isci.2026.116871
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
116871
Date Publish Online
2026-07-22