The nexus approach aims to identify tradeoffs and synergies of water, energy, and food systems, internalize social and environmental impacts, and guide development of cross. The water food energy nexus is central to sustainable development. The largest uses of freshwater are for agriculture irrigation, energy extractions, and the thermal cooling of power plants. It draws on the papers commissioned in this study, the interviews conducted as part of the research. At its 24th session, the committee on agriculture faos main technical advisory committee approved faos water governance for agriculture and food security programme, specifically mentioning the waterenergyfood nexus. Apr 09, 20 this assessment under the unece water convention has parallels with the national policy dialogues process through which a crosssectoral and stakeholder approach is also being implemented. Virtually all human activity requires water, energy, or food. The water food energy climate nexus and as a background paper to a major conference on the nexus in bonn 2011 called understanding the nexus. Tools for analyzing the water food energy ecosystems nexus compiled for unece by the energy systems analysis group of the royal institute of technology kth, stockholm september 2015 this document describes some notable recent approaches to analysing multiple resource dynamics.
The waterenergyfood nexus and process systems engineering. Managing key resources for sustainable development. A quantitative assessment framework for water, energy and. Mar 22, 2017 analysis the waterfoodenergy nexus is the first step to assess the decision maker in developing and evaluating national strategies that take into account the nexus. A new approach in support of food security and sustainable agriculture.
There are numerous ways in which the three strands of water, energy and food overlap. Dr hayes is the project manager for the international water security network and is leading a work package investigating the water energy food nexus. An increase in food production of 60% will lead to an increase in energy consumption. Nexus thinking is a new way of thinking that recognises the crucial interdependence of water, energy and food a relationship that forms the core of the environment nexus project. Food energy water nexus 3 the food energy water nexus initiative at monash university there is widespread agreement in the global community that the conventional delivery of food, energy and water services has been resourcenegligent, posing significant challenges for sustainable development. Keywords water energy food nexus index productivity consumption introduction the worlds food, water and energy resources are nowadays experiencing signi. This research article analyzes the ecological balance of human activities in rwanda and how policymakers have increasingly emphasized on energy water food nexus sectors separately without integrating land usage and population growth, which might pose an even more critical situation if left unattended to. Choices about managing water tradeoffs involve more than hydrology and economics. Another phd student will focus on the water land food nexus.
The water energy food wef nexus is rapidly expanding in scholarly literature and policy settings as a novel way to address complex resource and development challenges. Pdf water food and energy sustainability nexus researchgate. The waterenergyfood nexus is about understanding and managing these oftencompeting interests while also ensuring the integrity of ecosystems. Simonovic department of civil and environmental engineering the university of western ontario. The wef nexus is broadly defined as an approach that considers the interactions, synergies, harmonisation, and tradeoffs between water, energy, and food when undertaking the management of these resources. Understanding the waterenergyfood nexus in a warming. In this regard, emerging crosssectoral approaches such as the water energy food wef nexus could be useful. Challenges and opportunities that frames an integrated challenge and opportunity space around the waterenergy nexus for the department and its partners, laying the foundation for future efforts. Evaluations of food, energy and water few linkages are rapidly emerging in contemporary nexus studies. Recent research about the food water energy nexus has tended to focus on flows e.
Renewable energy in the waterenergy nexus some renewable energy technologies e. Having looked at water, energy, and food and seen how much each depends on the other, lets now turn our attention to how one manufacturing company serves each of these dimensions of the nexus. Tools for analyzing the waterfoodenergy ecosystems nexus. This paper presents a quantitative assessment framework of the water, energy and food wef nexus. Demand for all three is increasing, driven by a rising global population, rapid urbanization, changing diets and economic growth. The first challenge in dealing with the waterenergyfood nexus is to understand it. This waterfoodenergy nexus looks at the debate on resource scarcity, with new scientific findings that suggested humanity has exceeded the planetary boundaries, threatening its own safety. The energy water food nexus concept should be an integrated part of future policy making and decisions in the energy, water and food sectors. Apr 23, 2020 this article was originally published on the iucn website and has been republished here with their friendly permission. Of all natural resources, energy, water and food are most needed to sustain life on earth.
Discussion on the water, energy and food security nexus, the challenges of meeting future demands and maintaining the services provided by the environment was central to the recent bonn2011. Population growth, economic development, increased energy and food needs all exert increasing pressures on natural resources. Challenges and opportunities in applying the waterenergyfood nexus. With rising populations and appetites for these limited resources, the wefn has taken center stage in the minds of many policymakers and nongovernmental organizations, including the united nations. Tools for analyzing the waterfoodenergyecosystems nexus. Global trends of population growth, rising living standards and the rapidly increasing urbanized world are increasing the demand on water, food and energy. Agriculture is the largest consumer of the worlds freshwater resources, and more than onequarter of the energy used globally is expended on food.
In order to do this three main pathways have been identified. The water, energy and foodsecurity nexus page 698 nexus in practice make it happen. We classify these methods as qualitative or quantitative for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches. Africa needs to manage food, water and energy in a way that. The waterenergyfood nexus reports, articles, research. Water, food and energy nexus challenges wbcsd, 2014. Food, energy, and water transformative research opportunities in the mathematical and physical sciences the function of federal advisory committees is advisory only.
The waterfoodenergy nexus is an approach to consider the interactions between water. The work is overseen by the task force on the water food energy ecosystem nexus, including at the following meetings. Position paper on the status of the water food energy nexus in. The chemistry connection provides todays scientists with the background information necessary to fully understand the inextricable link between food, energy and water and how this conceptual framework should form the basis for all contemporary research and development in chemistry in particular, and the sciences in. In any case, all nexus interventions must take due account of crosscutting issues, principles and good practices in development cooperation. Water, food and energy nexus challenges 6 impact on energy the food sector currently accounts for around 30% of the worlds total energy consumption. This interconnectivity is illustrated by figure 6, a hybrid.
Oct 28, 2011 we are used to tackling challenges as single issues rainforest depletion, overfishing, water scarcity to name but a few. This publication underpins discussions of the high level panel on the water, food and energy nexus held during the 6th world water forum in marseille on 16 march 2012. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The waterlandfood nexus of firstgeneration biofuels. Another phd student will focus on the waterlandfood nexus. Renewable energy in the water, energy and food nexus. Research will contribute to the global aqua21 tool, including a. The food sector requires water and energy to produce food products, while fertilizer and pesticide from farmland have a negative impact on water quality. Pdf examining the water energy food nexus in jordan.
Water energy and food security nexus agecon search. Pdf urban communities are particularly vulnerable to the future demand for food, energy and water, and this vulnerability is further exacerbated by. Click download or read online button to get the water food energy and climate nexus book now. This water food energy nexus looks at the debate on resource scarcity, with new scientific findings that suggested humanity has exceeded the planetary boundaries, threatening its own safety. The juxtaposition of hydrology, economics, and values is at the crux of the water climate food energy nature nexus. Added to this is the growing threat of climate change which will have huge impacts on water and food availability. The american cast iron pipe company was founded in birmingham, alabama, in 1905 to manufacture cast iron pipe. The waterfoodenergy nexus realising a new paradigm.
From silos to nexus water security, energy security, and food security are intimately linked. Position paper on water, energy, food and ecosystems wefe. This paper focuses on a collection of methods that can be used to analyze the water energy food wef nexus. We classify these methods as qualitative or quantitative for interdisciplinary and. It presents a collection of case studies that provide insight into the strong interlinkages and inter. Food and agriculture organization of the united nations. Overview of the water, energy and food wef nexus this chapter provides an overview of the literature that describes the nexus concept, highlighting the importance of addressing the wef nexus in practice. This report is the final report on the food energy water nexus study. The nexus approach emphasises the importance of recognising the complex relationship and interlinkages between the water, energy and food sectors and also aims to safeguard the human rights to water and food 1214.
Understanding and managing the complex interactions between water, energy and food water, energy and food are essential for human wellbeing, poverty reduction and sustainable development. Water, energy and food pillars of global security, prosperity and equity perspectives water perspective food and energy. Waterenergy nexus in the peoples republic of china and emerging issues was prepared by pradeep perera of east asia department of the asian development bank under the guidance of ashok bhargava, director, energy division, east asia department, adb. Managing key resources for sustainable development 41. Position paper on water, energy, food and ecosystems wefe nexus and sustainable development goals sdgs 12 2. In the case of southern africa, where the region as a whole faces water, energy, and food insecurities, a wef nexus approach could unlock. Water is required to produce energy, while energy is needed for water extraction, treatment, and distribution. Renewable energy in the water, energy and food nexus aims to bridge this gap, providing the broad analysis that has been lacking on the interactions of renewables within those key. Consider how and where all three are used in the us as events like droughts, oil spills and fluctuating food prices make clear, the us cannot view these systems in isolation. Important early publications includes a world economic forum report entitled water security. They involve values, ethics, and priorities evolved and embedded in societies over thousands of years.
One initiative has been the waterenergyfood security nexus developed in bonn by. The methods for interdisciplinary research approaches can be used to unify a collection of related variables, visualize the research problem, evaluate the issue, and. The department of energy s water energy tech team has prepared a new report the waterenergy nexus. Nexus approaches to global sustainable development this paper proposes a systematic procedure to explicitly quantify the contributions of nexus approaches to progress toward meeting the sustainable development goals and provides perspectives on future directions. Look at the resource scarcity through a water energy food nexus lens. The water food energy nexus is an approach to consider the interactions between water, food and energy, while taking into account the synergies and tradeoffs that arise from the management of these three resources, and potential areas of conflict.
Feb 20, 20 nexus thinking is a new way of thinking that recognises the crucial interdependence of water, energy and food a relationship that forms the core of the environment nexus project. The proposed approach allows integrated quantitative assessments by considering all the wef intersectoral linkages and the competing demand for wef resources to evaluate future development scenarios. Overcoming food security challenges within an energywater. Water and food security, appearing in uns sustainable development goals, are operationalized and assessed in scenario studies employing the water and land footprint concepts. World economic forum 2011, the bonn 2011 nexus conference, the sixth world water forum, and world water week 2012, have urged an integrated approach to food, water, and. Water food energy security nexus in asia and the pacific region a position paper commissioned by the united nations economic and social commission for asia and the pacific.
This paper demonstrates, from a food consumption perspective, the potential of life cycle thinking in understanding the complex and often hidden linkages between few systems. Trends in the development of waterenergyfood nexus methods. The application of an energy, water and food nexus ewfn approach, which takes into account the interactions and connections between these three resources. A systems approach to modelling waterenergyfood nexus slobodan p. Masters thesis submitted for inspection for the degree of master of science in technology. The food energy water nexus water, as well as the treatment of wastewater, are energy intensive processes. The water food energy and climate nexus download ebook. Jan 22, 2017 africa needs to manage food, water and energy in a way that connects all three.
However, there is a real need to examine how people especially young people understand, learn about and participate in the nexus, in their everyday lives. Cwc studies how the water, food, and energy sectors are interrelated and how climate affects this dynamic. Ngos run compelling campaigns on single issues, companies develop issue. The energy water food nexus concept should be applied on all levels from local to global. Methodologies for managing the energywaterfood nexus at. Pdf developing a designled approach for the foodenergy. The past few years have seen increasing awareness of energywaterfood nexus challenges, as marked by the growth in publications shown in figure 6. The food energy water nexus understanding south africas. Global projections indicate that demand for freshwater, energy and food will increase significantly over. Pdf climate change and social changes such as population growth, globalization, economic growth and urbanization represent a stress on. Water food energy nexus water resources are inextricably intertwined with food and energy production. It deals with the question of how the water energy food wef nexus can support an expansion of development possibilities in times of increasing competition over water, energy and food resources.
Water food energy ecosystems nexus reconciling different resource uses in transboundary basins exus ded. In the manufacturing sector, energy and water are used to power, cool, and clean machines, mix materials, and in production processes. It is clear that solutions must be found to assure water security, thereby eliminating the immediate and increasing risk to food security, energy security, and economic growth and stability. Insights for the business community e nergy, water, and food ewf are connected to the inputs and outputs of every business. The ofid pamphlet series was begun in 1977, a year after the establishment of ofid. Nexus platform the waterenergyfood nexus nexus the. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the advisory committee. The water energy food nexus wefn is both an important and broad topic. Wind consumes the least amount of water during operation compared to conventional technologies solar pv consumes up to 25 times less water than nuclear. The series is meant to promote a better understanding of the aspirations. The water food energy nexus is emerging as a critical issue in asia and the pacific. Climate change adaptation through the waterenergyfood. For instance, largescale hydraulic infrastructure projects such as snwd or any other. Mohtar qatar environment and energy research institute, qatar foundation, doha, qatar and department of agricultural and biological engineering, purdue university, west lafayette.
Thus food, water, and energy are inextricably linked and must be considered together as a system. The availability of fresh water is a major driver in food production. Waterenergy nexus in the peoples republic of china and. Food and energy are equally dependent upon each other. The past few years have seen increasing awareness of energy water food nexus challenges, as marked by the growth in publications shown in figure 6. Trends in the development of water energy food nexus methods tamee albrecht1,2, arica crootof1,2 and christopher scott1,2 1school of geography and development, university of arizona, tucson, az 2udall center for studies in public policy, university of arizona, tucson, az although a novel way to address complex crosssectoral. The wef nexus is, therefore, the study of the connections between these three resource sectors, together with the synergies, conflicts and tradeoffs that arise from how they are managed, i. The connection between the systems is known as the water energy food nexus. Water, energy, food nexus thinking explained youtube. Current frameworks are partial as they largely represent a watercentric perspective. Appropriate legal nexus instruments and frame works for transboundary policy making and decisions. The water, energy and food security nexus according to the food and agriculture organisation of the united nations fao, means that water security, energy security and food security are very much linked to one another, meaning that the actions in any one particular area often can have effects in one or both of the other areas.
The waterenergyfood nexus food and agriculture organization. The waterfoodenergy nexus has emerged as a new perspective in debates concerned with balancing potentially conflicting sectoral imperatives of large scale development investments concerned with energy, water or food security. The water food energy nexus of biofuel consumption can be further analyzed by evaluating the tradeoff between the maximum number of people the planet could feed, and a partial conversion of the. Firstly, the conceptual model adopted for the proposed framework is presented.
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