Draft Concept Note, March 2008, on the water-energy-climate change nexus

DHI Water Policy released a Draft Concept Note, March 2008, on the water-energy-climate change nexus - a connection of growing concern. For example, in the U.S., where 39% of all water withdrawals go to energy production and consumption is set to increase by 80% in the next 30 years, the topic has been much debated in recent years. In Europe, where the issue is only beginning to be recognised, water consumption for energy production is expected to be equivalent to the daily water needs of 90 million people by 2030. The note scopes policy dimensions, including water and energy footprints, and the complications resulting from climatic changes; before outlining a roadmap towards building joint policy responses at COP-15.

Contact information	n/a
News type	Inbrief
File link	n/a
File link local	water-energy-climatechange_nexus.pdf (application/download, 193 Kb)
Source of information	DHI Water Environment Health
Keyword(s)	climatic change
Subject(s)	ENERGY , HYDRAULICS - HYDROLOGY , INFRASTRUCTURES , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT , RISKS AND CLIMATOLOGY , WATER DEMAND
Geographical coverage	Denmark, International
News date	16/04/2008
Working language(s)	ENGLISH

PDF

The Water-Energy-Climate Change Nexus

There is increasing concern that rising energy demands resulting from climate change and economic development will impact negatively on global water resources. At the national and regional level, it is expected there will be both winners and losers in the resulting ‘water footprint’.

Initial studies undertaken in the USA and Western Europe by DHI suggest a complicated footprint picture. What is needed first are general studies which show the complex relationships between energy production and climate change impacts, and how these translate into water use, from both groundwater and surface water resources. When these studies are done, there will be the opportunity for water organizations to develop mechanisms to adapt to a changing future.

Initial responses in the USA mentioned in the DHI Scoping Note (above), for example, included the need for decision makers to integrate energy issues into water policy, raise the priority of water conservation and efficiency, undertake energy audits of the water sector, phase out energy and water subsidies, and examine the climate implications of federal water policies. What works in the USA will not work everywhere. There will be no generic approach which suits all countries. Adaptive management responses will be needed, appropriate to the level of economic development of societies where these issues are being faced.

Torkil Jønch-Clausen, Director, DHI (Contact)
Bruce Hooper, Principal, Basin Governance, DHI (Contact)

See also resources from the Global Water Partnership and DHI:

Press Release

Policy Brief

Presentation

Posted by jauad at 16 Apr 2008 18:24:08