Biotech Updates

World Water Day 2014 Celebration Focuses on Water-Energy Nexus

March 26, 2014

The United Nations celebrated the World Water Day 2014 last March 22 highlighting the deep-rooted relationships of water and energy. According to Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meterological Organization and Chair of UN-Water, water and energy are among the world's pre-eminent challenges. UN forecasts that by 2030, the global population will require 35% more food, 40% more water, and 50% more energy.

The UN system, in cooperation with international partners and donors, is focusing on the water-energy nexus, particularly in addressing inequalities, especially for the ‘bottom billion' who live in impoverished rural areas and survive without access to potable water, proper sanitation, sufficient food, and energy services. It also aims to facilitate the development of policies and crosscutting frameworks that bridge ministries and sectors, leading the way to interlinked energy security and sustainable water use in a green economy. There is also an active search for best practices that can make a water- and energy-efficient ‘green industry' a reality: several methodologies are at play in which industrial productivity can be increased while reducing the water and energy footprints.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) stressed the role of biodiversity in improving efficiency and sustainability at the water-energy nexus. In farming systems, restoring soil biodiversity and land cover to improve soil functions and water cycling is an important strategy to increase the sustainability of bio-energy crops. In line with the celebration, UN released the 2014 World Water Development Report, which is an authoritative status report on global freshwater resources highlighting the need for policies and regulatory frameworks that recognize and integrate approaches to water and energy priorities.

Read more at http://unu.edu/media-relations/releases/wwd2014-un-stresses-water-energy-issues.html and http://www.cbd.int/doc/speech/2014/sp-2014-03-21-water-day-en.pdf.