There are important linkages between water, food, energy and climate change.
Energy is key in terms of demand, assets and supply.
Our world connects people, landscapes and ecosystems.
Food is key in terms of demand, assets and supply.
Water is key in terms of demand, assets and supply.
Climate change is key in terms of its effects on food, energy and water.
3 billion more middle-class people will demand more meat
Meat-rich diets will require far more land than the traditional diets they will replace.
Much of the population growth and the middle-class growth will occur in countries that are already water-scarce.
More than 70% of the world's freshwater use is in agriculture.
2017 sees 2 billion people worldwide in the Middle Class
2030 will see a Middle Class numbering 5 billion
By 2030 it is predicted that we will require 50% more food
By 2030 it is predicted that we will require 30% more freshwater
By 2030, total world population is predicted to be 8.5 billion people.
In the 1970's, we were worried by oil running out
In the 1980's, we were worried by deforestation & the hole in the Ozone layer.
In the 1990's, we were worried by water scarcity.
In the 2000's we were worried by soil degradation.
Food processing requires energy
Food production requires energy in terms of machinery & fertilizer
Biofuels production impacts on food supply.
Water infrastructure & use impacts on fish stocks
Water infrastructure impacts on land use
Water infrastructure & use 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.
Food distribution requires energy, often referred to as 'Food Miles'
Food production impacts on water quality through agro-chemical runoff & salinization
Energy production impacts on water quality e.g. pollution of groundwater supplies.
Clean water supply requires energy for treatment, pumping & distribution as well as for biofuel growth.
Energy production needs water e.g. nuclear cooling
Energy production impacts on water availability
These decade 'worry trends' were always single issues, now the move is towards nexus thinking.
France’s Bio (organic) industry has its HQ in L’Isle Jourdain (SW France). They promote organically grown foodstuffs
Locally you can see examples of French supermarkets stocking seasonal produce to reduce energy and water footprints.
Nexus is a response to the global crisis that hit energy and food demands in 2007 and 2008.
Large areas of Garonne valley are now classed as ‘Bio’ in an attempt to reduce agro chemical runoff & eutrophication.
Nexus can be approached from the perspective of sustainability & interrelationship between the environment, society & economy.
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More than 70% of the world's freshwater use is in agriculture.
