Understanding Water- Energy- Food Nexus from Mountain Perspective

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1 Understanding Water- Energy- Food Nexus from Mountain Perspective David Molden, Aditi Mukherji, Golam Rasul, Arun Shrestha, Ramesh Vaidya, Shahriar M. Wahid and Philippus Wester Presented by Golam Rasul and Aditi Mukherji International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Kathmandu, Nepal

2 Outline 1. Background & objective 2. Nexus challenges in South Asia 3. Role of Himalayas in Nexus security in South Asia 4. Challenge in sustaining mountain ecosystems 5. Conclusions & Recommendations

3 Water, Energy & Food Security: A common challenge Over 40% of the world's poor live in South Asia Growing water stress- 20% lack access to safe drinking water Food-energy deficiency- 51% 63% population no access to modern energy Water, Energy & Food security is a common challenge for SA

4 Objective Mountains provide numerous goods & services fresh water, biodiversity, food, forest, medicinal products & energy. However, the role of mountains in nexus security is not fully understood & recognized. Poor understanding may lead to inadequate action & further degradation of critical resources including mountain ecosystems With an example of the Himalayan ecosystem services & their role in ensuring water, energy & food security in SA, we argue that mountains deserve special attention in the water-energy-food-nexus discourse.

5 2. Nexus Challenges in South Asia

6 Nexus Challenges: Food Security With 3% of land, SA has to feed 20% population Per capita agricultural land declining Food production needs to be doubled in next 25 years Water demand for irrigation will increase about 70% Fertilizer demand will increase over 100% Rice & wheat- high water & energy demanding Intensification of agriculture has led to a great dependence on water & energy Competition for land for food & bio-energy crops & ecosystem services

7 Nexus Challenges: Water Security Growing water demand for agriculture, energy, industry, human & livestock Uneven endowment of water resources Almost 90% water is consumed by the agriculture sector About 20% of the population lack access to safe drinking water Groundwater: 70-80% of the agricultural production depends on groundwater irrigation Water pollution arsenic, water borne diseases, high child mortality, poor human health, salinization Growing water stress- Pakistan, India

8 Challenges: Irrigation Trend, Water Stress Irrigated area in Bangladesh 000 ha 4509 Irrigated land as % of arable land, Bangladesh Irrigated area in India 000 ha 70,000 60,000 57,178 50,000 40,637 40,000 30,000 25,523 20,000 10, Irrigated land as % of arable land, India

9 Challenges: Irrigation Trend, Water Stress Irrigated land in Nepal, 000 ha 1,200 1,135 1, Irrigated land as % of arable land, Nepal Irrigated land in Pakistan, 000 ha Irrigated land as % of arable land, Pakistan 20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2, ,810 15,548 11,

10 Nexus Challenges: Energy Security Widening demand - supply gap 63% no electricity -65% use biomass for cooking Shortage of energy impedes economic growth Meeting growing energy demand for agriculture, water, industry & other economic activities High dependence on traditional sources, fossil fuels, imported energy Reducing reliance upon fossil fuels & carbon intensity

11 Nexus Challenge: Climate change (% change) World -0.6 to -0.9 Developed Countries 2.7 to 9.0 Developing -3.3 to -7.2 Countries Southeast Asia -2.5 to -7.8 South Asia to Sub-Saharan -3.9 to -7.5 Africa Latin America 5.2 to 12.5 Climate change is a major concern - alterations in temperature & precipitation, melting Himalayan glaciers, degradation of natural resources & environment Fresh water availability increased uncertainty Increased frequency of extreme events, drought, floods, variability in climate, affecting monsoon patterns

12 3. Role of Himalayas in Water, Energy, and Food Security in South Asia

13 Himalayas the water tower of Asia Himalayan freshwater 54,000 glaciers, covering 60,000 Km 2 Largest body of ice outside the Polar caps Store about 12,000 km3 of freshwater

14 Indo-Gangetic Plain- bread basket of SA World s largest irrigated agriculture in IGBP Rice-wheat system produces the bulk of the food-grains of SA

15 Ground water recharge Himalayan watersheds are natural storage of water Himalayas influences the ground water condition of IGBP - Recharge deep aquifers IGBP is rich in ground water replenish by rainfall, snow & ice melting & seepage from Himalayan watershed

16 Monsoon Regulation Himalayas regulates microclimates, wind & monsoon circulation,

17 Energy Security Himalayas have vital role in energy security in SA Hydropower potential 500 GW Himalayas can provide access to green energy Of the total hydropower potential in India, 79% is in the Himalayan region Micro-hydropower

18 Challenges of sustaining mountain Ecosystems No incentives to mountain communities to conserve mountain natural resources. Degradation of natural resources- forest, rangeland, soil, watershed, headwaters of Himalayan rivers Environmental degradation- biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, siltation, silting river beds, declining ground water recharge, drying up streams, Socio-economic impacts- topsoil loss, declining productivity, water shortages, livelihoods insecurity, food insecurity, energy insecurity

19 Conclusions Need urgent action to sustainably manage mountain ecosystems to ensure food, water & energy security. Inter-country coordination & collaboration is critical for long-term solutions for food, water & energy security. A basin-level approach is required to manage synergies & trade-offs in food, water, & energy nexus. Mountain is global natural capital, it is common interest & shared responsibility to protect the mountain ecosystems

20 Recommendations Recognize the role of mountain ecosystems, upstreamdownstream interdependencies Optimum development & sustainable use of water & energymicro & macro hydropower - demarcate fragile zones. Framework for regional cooperation for multiple uses of water & benefit-sharing. Manage headwaters of the rivers & their watersheds. Provide incentives to mountain communities for sustainable management of the headwaters. Promote nexus knowledge base to support decision-making in managing trade-offs & promoting synergies

21 Thank you

22 Recommendations Provide alternative energy sources - to reduce black carbon emissions Develop micro & macro hydropower optimally- identify potential hydropower areas, demarcate fragile zones. Framework for regional cooperation for multiple uses of water for irrigation, energy, navigation, fisheries, domestic uses & for benefit-sharing. Promote interdisciplinary research & a nexus knowledge base to support decision-making in managing trade-offs & promoting synergies