Energy governance integration and the water-energy-food nexus for enhanced environmental sustainability: a literature review and governance framework

The interdependence of water, energy, and food (WEF) systems requires governance approaches that address cross-sectoral interactions rather than separate policy regimes. Although previous reviews have examined WEF nexus governance, sustainability, and resource interactions, limited attention has been given to how energy governance interfaces with environmental governance and the institutional mechanisms needed to manage WEF interdependencies. This study reviews the literature on environmental governance, energy governance, and the WEF nexus to identify key governance mechanisms and develop an integrated governance framework. The review covered studies published between 2017 and 2026. Of 200 records identified through Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, 124 proceeded to eligibility assessment and 111 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies were classified into six thematic categories: theoretical frameworks; governance policies and institutional frameworks; public participation and collaborative governance; sustainable development and economic–environmental trade-offs; technology, information disclosure, and transparency; and Energy, Social, and governance (ESG) and corporate governance. The synthesis identifies four interconnected governance pathways: institutional coordination, regulatory and economic mechanisms, digital and information mechanisms, and participatory and adaptive governance. Energy governance emerges as an important institutional interface through which energy-related decisions interact with water and food systems. The resulting framework integrates institutional coordination, governance principles, technological enablers, stakeholder participation, and adaptive learning to address WEF synergies and trade-offs and provide a basis for integrated policy design and future empirical research.