h2o is the next oil
TRANSCRIPT
H2O is the next Oil… The Water Footprint
Osnat LUSTIG www.linkedin.com/in/osnatlustig @manishma24
70% of Earth is covered by water ≈ 97% salt water. ≈ 3% fresh water
Green Lake, Seattle 2015
Carbon footprint Measure of human activities impact of on the environment. It is the total amount of CO2 emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service.
Water footprint (WFP) Water use in relation to consumption. The Water Footprint of an individual, business, or nation is defined as the total amount of fresh water used to produce the goods and services consumed by them. (Arjen Hoekstra 2002)
Virtual Water Volume of water needed to produce a commodity / service. (Tony Allan early 1990’s)
Water Neutral A standard relating to the efforts taken to minimize the environmental impact of water use.
Business Water footprint The total volume of fresh water used directly & indirectly to run and support the business, including:
• Operational: direct water use by the business, its own operation, and the output products.
• Supply chain: water used in the business supply-chain.
End-use Water footprint Such as:
• The water used to prepare a cup of coffee
• Water pollution resulting from use of soaps & detergents (There are about 116,000 man-made chemicals finding their way into public water supply systems).
1 bun = 80 liters
Water footprint of this meal = liters ( gallons)*
¼ pounder beef = 3100 liters
Large fries = 795 liters
Ear of corn = 225 liters 1 cup coffee
= 140 liters
1 slice cheese = 90 liters
(*Approximately)
1 cotton T-shirt
= 2700 liters
1 sheet paper
= 10 liters
1 kg bio-plastic resin
= 2250 liters
≈ Should we start considering a sum environmental footprint instead of its individual components?
≈ Are developments in the field of sustainability water positive? (e.g. Energy efficiency at the expense of water use)
≈ Water is a $375 billion global industry; 3rd largest after electricity and oil. What might be the impact of privatization of water sources by companies interested in monopolizing and trading water as a commodity?
≈ What might be the impact of bio-fuel and bio-polymer on virtual water trade? Will bio-fuel induce conflict in the future?
≈ How might consumer habits be changing in times of scarcity - of economical means and of natural resources?
≈ What kind of new products might emerge in this new reality?
Questions to ponder:
Links: www.waterfootprint.org
www.drinktap.org www.foodandwaterwatch.org www.worldwatercouncil.org
knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu www.flowthefilm.com
Epi.yale.edu www.snetglobalwaterindexes.com/market.html
