There are important linkages between water, food, energy and sustainability.We call these links a nexus
Sustainable agriculture is important in terms of future generations health and well being
Sustainable agriculture is agriculture that meets the needs of today without compromising future generations to meet their own needs
Food is key to national security in terms of demand, assets and supply.
Energy is key to national security in terms of demand, assets and supply.
Water is key to national security in terms of demand, assets and supply.
There are different efficiencies in water use through variations in irrigation and technology
Water is an essential input to crop yield and pastoral health
More than 70% of the world's freshwater use is in agriculture.
Environmental resources such as water resources and soil fertility are critical in supporting sustainability
Vast amounts of oil and gas are used as raw materials for energy in the manufacture of fertilisers and pesticides
Oil is an essential input into agriculture for more intensive farming systems
Environmental protection supports livelihoods, incomes, health and well being
Oil supports the mechanisation and transportation of food production
The majority of freshwater is extracted from groundwater storages
Pesticides and fertilizer use leaches into local soils and waterstorages
Most water is lost through transpiration, evaporation and leakages
Petroleum products are used in packaging of fished produce
Oil is is used in the transportation of food from source to market, commonly measured through food miles
Agricultural produce contains a water footprint e.g. 2500 litres of water is used to produce one hamburger
Forest and upland regions are vital catchments for the capture and storage of freshwater
Water is also used in the production of oil for machinery
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are a biproduct of intensive oil based farming systems
Innovative techniques can be used to store water behind large scale dams or run-off capture tanks
Water is used in the production of packaging
Different agricultural systems produce food with varying intensity and commercial output
Water is pumped from ground water storages, lakes and rivers
Food is transported to both local and global markets
Quality controls and wastage means over one third of all food for humans never gets eaten
There is huge disparity in the availability of food for consumption between places
3 billion more middle-class people will demand more meat
Meat-rich diets require far more land than traditional diets
Biofuels production fuels land grabs and impacts food security
Water infrastructure, such as large dam construction & use impacts on fish stocks
Water infrastructure impacts on land use
Energy infrastructure such as rigs and dams displaces people and impacts on food supplies
Climate change means that rainfall & water availability are likely to become more uncertain.
Food production impacts on water availability through over irrigation & groundwater extraction
Pastoral and arable food production needs clean water
Fossil fuel extraction impacts on food supply and food prices.
Much of the population growth and the middle income growth will occur in countries that are already water-scarce.
Food production impacts on water quality through agro-chemical runoff & salinization
Energy production impacts on water quality e.g. pollution of groundwater supplies and drainage basins
Clean water
supply requires energy for treatment, pumping & distribution as well as for biofuel growth.
Energy production needs water e.g. nuclear cooling
Poorly regulated energy production impacts on water quality and increases water and land insecurity
By 2030 it is predicted that we will require 50% more food
National Energy security is fundamental to the geopolitics of countries, including the US and UK.
As the Arctic becomes more accessible oil and gas become more economically viable further extending our use of carbon fuels
CC
is causing rapid loss of over 90% of alpine glaciers potentially impacting the water supply of over 2 billion people
2017 sees 2 billion people worldwide in the middle income groups demanding consumer good with high energy footprints
By 2030 it is predicted that we will require 30% more freshwater
Our world connects people, landscapes and ecosystems
CC is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of storms, leading increased flooding, coastal erosion and displacement
The business
as usual mentality of world leaders has led to rapid increases in GHG that will have irreversible impacts on our climate
CC will intensify droughts and increase their frequency threatening food security for over 2 billion people
security for over 2 billion people
Increased water insecurity will lead to widespread displacement and tension from the village to the global scale
CC is likely to continue to shrink the Arctic ice sheet opening up new shipping routes that will create opportunities and geopolitical challenges
CC is likely to continue to shrink the Arctic ice sheet making oil and gas reserves more accessible and a potential reason for tension.
