Climate Conversations
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Advisors
    • COP 28 Ambassadors
    • COP 27 Ambassadors
    • Alumni
  • Climate Conversation
    • Policy
    • Science and Technology
    • Science Communication
    • COP Collection
    • Opinion
  • Media
  • Apply

Climate Conversations


Increasing Water and Energy Access: Climate Change’s Impact on the Water- Energy Nexus

31/3/2023

0 Comments

 

By Julianne Rolf

Picture
​Climate change is drastically altering the hydrologic cycle. Water vapor concentrations, precipitation patterns, stream flow rates, ice sheet sizes, and cloud formation have been affected. Furthermore, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests, driven, in part, by climate change and the resulting sea level rise. Wetlands are some of the most carbon-dense ecosystems, maintaining surface water supplies and acting as a carbon sink. Additional stress is being placed on other potable water resources as both extreme droughts and heavy rains become more frequent. Billions of people do not have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and 129 countries are not on track to provide these resources for all by 2030. With 3.4 million people dying every year from waterborne illnesses, the United Nations (UN) analysis shows that current progress needs to double to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6.
 
Water production and transportation requires energy, with energy consumption accounting for as much as 40% of treatment costs. Similarly, the energy sector constitutes up to 15% of freshwater withdrawals globally and even more domestically. Water is also essential for electricity generation, mineral mining, oil extraction and processing, and biofuel cultivation. The International Energy Agency estimates that the energy sector will consume almost 60% more water over the next three decades. Certain electricity generation stations will be affected by water cycle changes. Suffering from too much or not enough water can prevent reliable energy access. Extreme droughts can lead to longer fire seasons and larger fires that can disrupt energy supplies. Thus, utility companies, for example in California, have resorted to temporarily cutting their services to prevent fires.
 
Regions with limited or no access to electricity, which are mostly situated in sub-Saharan Africa, suffer from a compounding lack of both clean water and energy. Managing the water-energy nexus effectively and equitably will have significant implications on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for providing clean water, sanitation, and energy to all. We will need to rely on non-traditional water sources, such as wastewater, for drinking water. Less water-intensive electricity generation processes with low or no carbon emissions, such as wind and non-concentrated solar power, will need to be widely deployed. The water-energy nexus should be a priority in future technology and policy changes needed to mitigate the causes and effects of climate change. Without additional incentives from government agencies, power and water treatment plants will not be built or upgraded fast enough to meet the UN Sustainable Goals while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    SDG 01: No Poverty
    SDG 02: Zero Hunger
    SDG 03: Good Health And Well-Being
    SDG 04: Quality Education
    SDG 05: Gender Equality
    SDG 06: Clean Water And Sanitation
    SDG 07: Affordable And Clean Energy
    SDG 08: Decent Work And Economic Growth
    SDG 09: Industry Innovation And Infrastructure
    SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 11: Sustainable Cities And Communities
    SDG 12: Responsible Consumption And Production
    SDG 13: Climate Action
    SDG 14: Life Below Water
    SDG 16: Peace Justice And Strong Institutions

    Archives

    March 2024
    February 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    June 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo from Noel Feans
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Advisors
    • COP 28 Ambassadors
    • COP 27 Ambassadors
    • Alumni
  • Climate Conversation
    • Policy
    • Science and Technology
    • Science Communication
    • COP Collection
    • Opinion
  • Media
  • Apply