Bringing Ecosystems to the Forefront of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Discussion

IUCN/IWA/UNEP Side Event at Nexus 2014 Conference, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

March 5, 2014

Carla FriedrichAssociate Programme Officer

United Nations Environment ProgrammeRegional Office for North America

Already water is a scarce resource in many places. GEO-4 estimates that by 2025 two-thirds of the global population will be living in areas experiencing water stress.

Agriculture is already the biggest user of freshwater resources; expanding and intensifying bioenergy production could add to existing pressures. As the integrity of water systems declines, they are less able to provide fundamental ecosystem services such as the provision of clean water, natural filtration services, natural habitat for fisheries etc.

Global challenges such as climate change, population growth, change in living standards and energy demand will further impact the world’s water supplies.

Why Nexus?

The Nexus: Emphasis Within Different Organizations

‘Ecosystems,’ ‘Risk Reduction,’ and ‘Sustainability’ are missing from the dialogue

The Nexus According to UNEP

Sustainable Livelihoods & Green Growth

Figure 2 - UNEP

Figure 1

An Ecosystem Services Emphasis

Supporting a wide range of ecosystem services for long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits

Source: M.Otto

Agricultural waste and residues and food

waste for bioenergy

Agricultural waste and residues to rebuild soil

Energy

Food

Water

Land

Water for Energy production:

-extraction, mining, refining and residue

disposal of fossil fuels-plant cooling-hydropower

-bioenergy feedstock production

Water for Food production:

-biomass for food and fodder production

(irrigation and rainfed)-food processing

Energy for Access to Water:

-water pumping and distribution

- water treatment- sea water desalination

Energy for Food Security:

- irrigation- fertilizer production- agricultural machinery- food preservation and

processing- transport- cooking

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Integrated Water Resource M

anagement

Agro-Ecological Zoning

UNEP’s Role: GovernanceInvolving relevant sectors in dialogues

Convincing policy makers to apply a system of economic and environmental accounting, including valuation of natural capital

Assisting in the development of policy and management tools

Putting ecosystems at the center of the water-energy-food Nexus

Examples of Relevant UNEP ActivitiesLandcapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative

(with EcoAgriculture, FAO, WRI, CI, and other partners)

Incorporation of ecosystems regulatory services in decision support systems (with IWMI) Zambezi and Nile GEF floods and droughts project in the Mekong and Volta

Integrating water and energy activities in the green economyWastewater and sanitation resource recovery and energy reuseWork on biomass optimization using land and water (with FAO and

IUCN -- exploring options for a platform that engages various production and end use sectors, governments and civil society)

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes, such as valuation efforts in the Mekong and trans-boundary basin plans in Okavango

Flagship project on Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (with UNDP, IUCN and BMU)

The Bioenergy and Water Nexus

Ecosystems for Water and Food Security

Avoiding future famines: Strengthening the ecological foundation of food security through sustainable food systems

The Environmental Food Crisis: The Environment's role in averting future food crisis

Recent publications

Next StepsPromote science to address knowledge gaps

Develop and promote a toolbox

Policy support and capacity building

Further engage in the dialogue

Creating a common vision: The Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus

International Conference on

Sustainability in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus19-20 May 2014 in Bonn, Germany

Complementary to IUCN/IWA Nexus dialogues on water infrastructures

Main topics Tools for the sustainable implementation of the Nexus approach Governance and management of the Nexus Considering the Environment and Livelihoods Implementing the Nexus at Various Scales

http://wef-conference.gwsp.org

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