Conceptual Model Discussion
The bulk of the workshop will revolve around discussion of a conceptual model (see below) that
illustrates the heat-water-energy nexus, vulnerabilities, and the potential for cascading impacts.
As environmental systems converge, it produces a set of vulnerabilities within the
social/infrastructural systems. These vulnerabilities are subsequently mitigated by certain
policies or practices, but they can also be amplified by other related vulnerabilities. When
environmental conditions drive vulnerabilities over a threshold, this can result in cascading
events or impacts that far exceed the normal planning and veer into the disaster/emergency
management sector.
This conceptual model is meant to stimulate discussion about the various sectors and
vulnerabilities, and how to manage impacts. It is by no means complete and is expected to
change over the course of the workshop, based on discussion and input from participants. The
next steps will be to identify what some of these cascading effects/events might be, identify any
unknown vulnerabilities that might result from cascading events within the system, and discuss
some of the mechanisms that amplify the risks within these systems.