Urgency at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems

摘要

Water shortages in California have recently attracted a lot of attention in the popular press, but the problem is much larger than a single state or even nation. The world population is growing, and an increase in both the number of people and the quality of life is resulting in an increased demand for more water, food, and energy. Of these three factors, water abundance and quality seems to be the central issue. Too little water, and crop yields decline. Too much water in the wrong places, and we have flooding and crop failure. In the past, water issues have generally been addressed by using more energy, allowing water redistribution over vast distances and (particularly in highly arid regions) extensive water production through seawater desalination. Most of this energy is currently derived from fossil fuels, which contributes to increased carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. To address these water issues on a local to global scale, we must therefore also consider these issues within the framework of climate change and understand how changes in the climate will alter the global availability and stability of water resources and food production. Clearly, we need a plan.