An Integrated View of Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Security

Presentation #1

www.iisd.org ©2015 The International Institute for Sustainable Development

June 1, 2015

Dimple Roy

• “A rapidly rising global population and growing prosperity are putting unsustainable pressures on resources.

• Demand for water, food and energy is expected to rise by 30-50% in the next two decades, while economic disparities incentivize short-term responses in production and consumption that undermine long-term sustainability.

• Shortages could cause social and political instability, geopolitical conflict and irreparable environmental damage.

• Any strategy that focuses on one part of the water-food-energy nexus without considering its interconnections risks serious unintended consequences.”

(Source: World Economic Forum, 2011)

Water-Energy-Food Security: A growing concern

Water-Energy-Food Security: A global risk

Water for drinkingWater for agriculture

Water is consumed for drinkingWater is consumed for growingQuality impacted by fertilizer use and animal waste

Energy powers water pumpsEnergy has thermal impacts on water

Water drives power turbines

Energy powers agriculture equipmentEnergy powers refrigeration

Agriculture consumes fuel end electricityFood waste can be converted into fuel

Water Security

Food Security

Energy Security

Water-Energy-Food Security: Interconnections

Water distribution systems

Typical Sources of WaterSurface Water Groundwater

Storage Water

Rainwater Harvest

Imported Water

De-salinized Water

Fuel extraction

Fuel Sources

Fuel Generators

Distribution Systems

Energy Production and Distribution Cycle

Typical Sources of Energy

Biomass

Diesel, Petrol

Electricity Grid

Propane (natural gas)

Renewable

Natural Food Cycle

Primary production

Secondary production

Consumption

Typical Sources of Food

Self-produced (subsistence) Purchased locally (and grown locally)

Imported

Source: U.S Department of Energy, 2006

Scale: Regional Scale: National Scale: Global

WEF Security for a Community

Security Water Sources Energy Sources Food Sources

Availability

Access

Supporting

Infrastructure

Supporting

Institutions and

Policies

Institutions (utility boards, user associations and resource co-ops,

education and training, safety oversight, law enforcement and security)

Policies & Plans (resource use, climate change adaptation,

disaster recovery, risk management, R&D and innovation)

Framework for Water, Energy and Food Security

Use

Processing

Storage

Distribution

Markets

Purchasing Power (livelihood income, remittances, credit)

Aid (direct provision, saftey nets, subsidies)

Self-production (water wells, off-grid power, individual/community gardens)

Barter

Built Infrastructure (transportation, communication, waste removal)

Natural Infrastructure (erosion control, storm protection, water purification,

biological control, air quality maintenance, pollination)

Source: IISD (2013)

The WEF Framework

Source: IISD (2015).

WEF System Management

Source: IISD (2015).

WEF Security Framework

Indicators and Monitoring

Engagement and Assessment

Status and

linkages

1. Community Profile

2. WEF Inventory

(Sources, Uses)

3. WEF Status

(current)

4. WEF System

Diagram

Potential mining

benefits and impacts

5. Mining Profile

6. Mining WEF

Inventory

(source, Uses)

7. Mining WEF

Influence

Actions to realize

benefits and mitigate

impacts

8. WEF Security

Actions & Indicators -

a. Operations: WEF

Mine-Composite

b. Closure WEF

Closure-Composite

9. Mining Influence

Diagram

Summary for

Decision-makers

10. WEF Security

Summary

Mining Phases

Exploration7-10 yrs

Development5-10 yrs

Operation5-30 yrs

Closure2 – 10 yrs

Prospecting Detailed Drilling Commissioning Shut-Down

DetailedExploration

Environmental Studies

Training Decommission-ing

DrillingExploration

DetailedEngineering Plans

Production Reclamation

Environmental Work

Permitting Expansion Post-Closure

Construction

Water Distribution Systems

Fuel extraction

Fuel Sources

Fuel Generators

Distribution Systems

Energy Production and Distribution Cycle

The Food Production

Chain

WEF Influences - Mine Benefit/Impact

Availability

–↓ Water pollution (heavy metals, silt, ARD)

–↑ ↓ Competition for WEF

–↑ Market value

Access

–↑ Purchasing power

–↑ Aid

–↓ Self-production risk to resources

–↓ Bartering

WEF Influences - Mine Benefit/Impact

Supporting Infrastructure

– ↑ Built systems: Schools, roads, power lines, etc.

– ↓ Natural systems: wetlands, veg. cover, stream habitats

Supporting Institutions/Policies

– ↑ Training and education

– ↑ Safety enforcement

– ↑↓ Climate change adaptation

– ↓Disaster recovery and risk management

– ↑RDI

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