Beyond Borders and Silos: Rethinking How Energy Policies Shape Water and Society

ABSTRACT

Water is the integral ingredient in both the food and energy systems, linking the sustainability of agriculture, energy production, human well-being, and ecosystem health. Despite this reality, much of our land use and energy policy is set without a clear valuation of water and under the
assumption of abundance. Water is often traded across borders in the form of food and energy, based on economic measures, and with limited attention to local context and social impacts. As water scarcity intensifies worldwide, understanding these interconnections and managing tradeoffs across sectors and regions is essential. I will present a holistic framework that integrates environmental, economic and social data and maps tradeoffs and feedback loops within both local and cross-border policy contexts. I will illustrate how energy subsidies, regulatory frameworks, and population dynamics influence sustainability outcomes, social equity, and resource flows through two case studies: agricultural desalination in Baja California and across-border electricity exchange between multiple U.S. states and Mexico. I will discuss the importance of understanding the interconnections across sectors and design practical solutions and effective policies to manage tradeoffs and minimize social and environmental impacts.

BIO

Dr. Newsha Ajami is the Chief Strategy and Development Officer for Research at the Berkeley Lab’s Earth and Environmental Sciences Area. A leading expert in sustainable water management, smart cities, environmental policy, and finance, she currently leads interdisciplinary research initiatives at LBL that focus on the intersection of water, energy, and climate. For over two decades, her work has advanced data-driven, policy-relevant solutions that promote a resilient water future, bridging science, policy, stakeholder engagement, and finance.

Dr. Ajami was (2021-2024) a mayoral appointee to the San Francisco PUC and a gubernatorial appointee (2013-2021) to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. She served (2018-2024) on the National Academies Board on Water Science and Technology. She is currently a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and sits on several advisory boards. She received her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Irvine.