Per capita food supplies therefore tend to increase with economic growth, however this rise begins to slow at higher-income levels.
There are important linkages between water, food, energy and climate change.
Climate change is key in terms of its effects on food, energy and water.
3 billion more middle-class people will demand more meat.
More than 70% of the world's freshwater use is in agriculture.
In 2020, there are 2.5 billion people living with middle income (17% lower middle-income, 15% upper middle income)
Energy production – mainly the burning of fossil fuels – accounts for around ¾ of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Meat-rich diets will require far more land than than the traditional diets they will replace.
By 2050, total world population is predicted to be 9.7 billion.
In the 1980s, we were worried about deforestation and the ozone layer.
In the 1970s, we were worried about oil.
In the 1990s, we were worried about water scarcity.
In the 2000s, we were worried about soil degradation.
In 2020, the global middle-class encompassed 54 million people fewer than the number projected prior to the onset of the pandemic.
Burning of fossil fuels contributes to pollution; at least 5 million deaths are attributed to air pollution each year.
In 2000, 86% of the world’s energy came from the burning of fossil fuels.
In Switzerland in 2019, 49% of primary energy comes from low-carbon sources (either nuclear or renewables)
Globally, 19% of total water withdrawals are used for industrial purposes (including cooling of thermal and nuclear power plants)
Water is an essential input to global agriculture, whether in the form of rainfed sources or pumped irrigation.
the daily per capita supply of calories, protein and fat all tend to increase with economic growth.
In 2010 India was the world’s largest agricultural water consumer at nearly 700 billion m3 per year. Its consumption doubled between 1975 and 2010.
By 2050 we will need to produce 60 per cent more food to feed the world's population.
