The nexus approach embeds the opinion water, energy and food security cannot be achieved in single sector methodology. Considering the interlinkages between water, energy and land is crucial for achieving sustainable development objectives[1].
Introduction to the concept
Achieving water, energy and food security for all will be only possible by considering the interdependencies between the sectors. Drinking water supply, energy production and agriculture are all based on water and land resources. Demographic growth, urbanisation and climate change are accentuating the pressure on these limited resources[2]. The world will face a 40% water gap for covering the global drinking water, energy and food needs by 2030[3]. Land scarcity is still a major constraint for ensuring food security. In a business as usual scenario, the trade-offs among development objectives will continue to increase; competing uses and sub-optimal allocationof limited resources will become major liabilities to economic growth and acceptable living conditions. For instance, the black-outs occurring in India in the summer of 2012 are to a large extent due to water constraints: water scarcity for cooling the thermal power plants, low withdrawal for maintain hydropower, increased use of groundwater for irrigation, etc. To date all sector approaches, e.g. renewal energy support programmes, are generally not considering their impacts and their interdependencies on water and land resources[4].
As recommended in the European Report on Development 2012[5] , “a radical transformation is needed”. Water and land constraints, as well as the impacts of single sectoral approaches on other sectors, have to be considered in the development of water, energy and food solutions. The nexus perspective will greatly facilitate the achievement of development goals on a large scale and will reduce negative impacts[6]. The nexus perspective is particularly enlightening for developing sustainable solutions, for example in considering water constraints in energy production; water-smart and energy-smart food; and impacts of biofuels on food security. Developing and implementing such nexus solutions require that governments develop mechanisms for ensuring policy coherence, that the private sector integrates water issues in corporate risk management, and that consumer influence is mobilized for changing consumption patterns and production processes[7].
Six “Nexus Opportunity Areas” were identified as important principles for addressing the often competing tensions between sectoral objectives and the consequential pressures on water, land and other related resources:
Energy production and the agro-food chain are major drivers of climate change. At the same time, agriculture and drinking water are among the most climate-vulnerable sectors. Additionally, climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, expansion of biofuels, or hydropower can create significant new water and land demands[8]. Climate change adaptation can be very energy intensive: irrigation requires more energy than rain-fed agriculture, desalination uses more energy than conventional water supplies, and increased groundwater use and water storage may require additional pumping. Opportunities for less energy intensive irrigation through improved rain-fed agriculture, green water and soil management have not yet been fully realized. Thus, climate policies also need to take an integrated perspective across the water, energy, and food security nexus to avoid maladaptation and negative externalities[9].
Bonn 2011 Nexus Conference
By hosting the Bonn2011 Conference, organized under the auspices of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the German Government pursued three objectives:
to develop policy recommendations based on multi-stakeholder consultations and a nexus perspective,
- to position the water, energy and food security nexus perspective as an important dimension within the ‘Rio2012’ process, as well as the Green Economy and Green Growth concepts, and
- to launch concrete initiatives to address the water, energy, food security nexus in a coherent and sustainable way.
On November 16-18, 2011, after a yearlong preparatory process, more than 550 participants representing diverse stakeholder groups gathered in Bonn, Germany to explore a visionary method of achieving sustainability through a ground-breaking conference called “The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus – Solutions for the Green Economy”.
[10]The results of this conference were a contribution to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development “Rio2012” and are the stepping stones for forthcoming Nexus discussions.
Examples of Nexus in practice
Productivity and availability of water, energy and land vary enormously between regions and production systems. The potential to increase overall resource use efficiency and benefits in production and consumption is significant. To get a better picture of Nexus in practice, two good practice examples are presented below.
Ensuring water, food and energy security in the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) region this case study particularly illustrates the necessity to establish mechanisms for ensuring policy coherence at regional level in order to ensure water, food and energy security.
Improving the water and energy efficiency for food production through drip irrigation in India
Irrigation has been a major driver behind India’s Green Revolution, providing food and income to large parts of the population. India strongly relies on groundwater for agriculture. Groundwater withdrawals have increased 113-fold between 1950 and 1985, which has made India the largest groundwater user in the world. This has led to severe over-exploitation of several aquifers.
Pumping for irrigation is very energy intensive: about 20 % of India’s electricity use is for irrigation. In fact, more than half of India’s hydro-power production is going into pumping ground¬water. The enormous groundwater over-exploita¬tion is only possible due to flat or free power tariffs. These power subsidies are now difficult to reduce, given the dependence of India’s rural population on this groundwater economy.
A nexus perspective helps to identify and understand trade-offs, and facilitates the formulation of sustainable solutions for all sectors. In this case study, introducing drip irrigation is part of the solution for increasing water and energy efficiency of food production[11].
More on this case study:
http://www.water-energy-food.org/en/practice/view__577/improving_the_water_and_energy_efficiency_for_food_production_through_drip_irrigation_in_india.html
Water-spreading weirs in Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso
Water-spreading weirs are an important way of protecting drainage basins, making it possible to improve the low-lying areas. They slow the water flow and increase the area which is regularly flooded by the water. They enable rainwater to be stored and enlarge the area suitable for cultivation along the banks of the wadis. Water seeps into the groundwater and increases its level so that it rises up very close to the surface. Their maintenance is trouble-free and requires minimal effort if there is no major damage.
Water-spreading weirs cannot be built everywhere. Large wide-spread valleys with a low slope angle provide ideal conditions. Managing drainage basins requires the construction of a series of weirs, where each weir retains some of the water and alluvial deposits and gradually raises the bed of the wadi. Over a very short period of time, this process also raises the ground water table by up to 20 meters. This reduces the costs for energy (pumping costs) and the required labour of women who have to draw the water. It also facilitates animals’ access to water.
Construction management is under the responsibility of local municipalities. The organisation is very often delegated to local construction committees[12].
Additional case studies:
http://waterandfood.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Water-Food-Energy-Nexus.pdf
References
- ↑ http://www.mrcmekong.org/assets/Uploads/M2R-report-address-water-energy-food-security.pdf
- ↑ GIZ 2011: Conference Synopsis, Bonn http://www.water-energy-food.org/documents/bonn2011_nexussynopsis.pdf
- ↑ Source: McKinsey (2009): Charting Our Water Future. Economic Frameworks to inform decision-making.
- ↑ http://www.mrcmekong.org/assets/Uploads/M2R-report-address-water-energy-food-security.pdf
- ↑ http://erd-report.eu/erd/report_2011/documents/erd_report%202011_en_lowdef.pdf
- ↑ GIZ 2011: Understanding the nexus - Background paper for the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference, Bonn http://www.water-energy-food.org/documents/understanding_the_nexus.pdf
- ↑ Messages from the Bonn2011 Conference http://www.water-energy-food.org/documents/messages/nexus_flyer_2012.pdf
- ↑ GIZ 2011: Conference Synopsis, Bonn http://www.water-energy-food.org/documents/bonn2011_nexussynopsis.pdf
- ↑ GIZ 2011: Understanding the nexus - Background paper for the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference, Bonn http://www.water-energy-food.org/documents/understanding_the_nexus.pdf
- ↑ Messages from the Bonn2011 Conference http://www.water-energy-food.org/documents/messages/nexus_flyer_2012.pdf
- ↑ http://www.water-energy-food.org/en/practice/view__577/improving_the_water_and_energy_efficiency_for_food_production_through_drip_irrigation_in_india.html
- ↑ http://www.giz.de/Themen/de/dokumente/E-Water-spreading-weirs.pdf
Further information
Understanding the Energy-Water Nexus
http://www.water-energy-food.org/
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