Understanding the Nexus Between Water, Energy and Food Security

“Understanding the Nexus”, the Background paper for the International Conference “The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus – Solutions for the Green Economy” from 16 to 18 November 2011 in Bonn, Germany, is now available at:

www.water-energy-food.org/understanding_the_nexus

“Climate change poses additional challenges – but also a window of opportunity – for integrated water and energy planning. We need to reduce the water intensity of climate mitigation options, such as carbon sequestration and biofuels, and reduce the energy intensity of climate adaptation options, like desalination”, explains the main author Holger Hoff, of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). “Our paper addresses these challenges and presents initial evidence for how a nexus approach can enhance water, energy and food security and help to build a green economy by reducing trade-offs and building synergies across the three sectors.”

The Bonn2011 Nexus Conference Background paper highlights opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce wastage and alleviate poverty, and how to benefit from productive ecosystems. “Our paper recommends that effective climate policies need an integrated perspective across the water, energy and food security nexus to avoid maladaptation and negative externalities. Climate policies must also address equity issues, because most of the historical greenhouse gas emissions originate from the industrialized countries, while developing countries are projected to be hit hardest by climate change impacts”, adds SEI Centre Director Johan Kuylenstierna, co-author of “Understanding the Nexus”: “Given that crisis often leads to change, the increasing climate pressure could provide new opportunities for overcoming inertia and lock-in, and help to integrate climate protection, ecosystem approaches and sustainable development goals within a Green Economy.“

The development of “Understanding the Nexus” has been coordinated and led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). Other main contributors were the FAO, IFPRI, SIWI, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the WWF. The paper underpins the forthcoming draft policy recommendations of the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference, which will be made available for comments shortly before the Conference, here:
www.water-energy-food.org/draft_policy_recommendations

Source: Climate Change Info Mailing List