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