The hidden water consumption:

Transcription

1 The hidden water consumption: a comprehensive introduction to Water footprints Globalization of water Consumption of water-intensive goods local water saving, but also water dependency related to import Winnie Gerbens-Leenes HENVI Science day,, April 16th 2009 Production of water-intensive goods Trade local water consumption and pollution related to export Globalization of water Globalization of water Matching water demand and supply is no longer a river basin issue, but a global issue. Local disturbances of water systems are increasingly to be understood through analysis of global markets for water-intensive products. Good water governance requires addressing consumption and trade of water-intensive products. Consumers indirectly contribute to water depletion and pollution elsewhere, without covering the cost. Water-abundant regions have other opportunities than water-scarce regions Several nations become increasingly dependent on external water resources. Water is a geopolitical resource. There is a growing need to harmonize national water and trade policies. Overview presentation 1. The water needs for goods and services 1. The water needs of goods & services The water footprint of products 2. National water scarcity in a global context International virtual water flows Saving water through trade Water footprints of nations Water dependency of nations 3. Water and energy 4. Water and business 5. From concept to practice 6. The way forward

2 The concept of virtual water Assessing the virtual water content of products Virtual water is the water embodied in a product, not in real sense, but in virtual sense. It refers to the water needed for the production of the product. Global trade in goods and services brings along global trade in virtual water Virtual water content of a crop Crop water use (m 3 /ha) / Crop yield (ton/ha) Virtual water content of an animal Sum of water for feed, drinking and servicing Virtual water content of a crop or livestock product Distribute the virtual water content of the root product over its derived products Crop water requirement Irrigation requirement 1. Calculate reference crop evapotranspiration ET 0 (mm/day) e.g. Penman-Monteith equation 2. Calculate crop evapotranspiration Et c (mm/day) Et c = ET 0 K c where K c = crop coefficient 3. Calculate crop water requirement CWR (m 3 /ha) CWR = Et c [accumulate over growing period] Irrigation requirement = crop water requirement effective rainfall Crop water use Green water use by crop = min (crop water requirement, effective precipitation) Blue water use by crop = min (irrigation requirement, effective irrigation) The water footprint of a product is the volume of fresh water used to produce the product, summed over the various steps of the production chain.

3 The water footprint of a product is the same as its virtual water content, but includes a temporal and spatial dimension: when and where was the water used. The water footprint consists of three components: blue wf + green wf + grey wf Production chain cotton Cotton seed Hulling/ extraction Cotton seed oil Cotton seed cake Cotton seed oil, refined Cotton linters Cotton plant Harvesting Seed-cotton Ginning Garnetted stock Cotton lint Cotton, not carded or combed Carding/ Spinning Cotton, carded or combed (yarn) Knitting/ weaving Grey fabric Yarn waste Wet processing Assessing the water footprint of a product requires analysis of the full production chain. Legend Product fraction Value fraction Fabric Finishing Final textile The water footprint of products global averages 1 kg wheat 1 m 3 water 1 kg rice 3 m 3 water 1 kg milk 1 m 3 water 1 kg cheese 5 m 3 water 1 kg pork 5 m 3 water 1 kg beef 15 m 3 water

4 [Aldaya & Hoekstra, 2009]

5 Water footprint of Dutch coffee consumption The water footprint is spatially explicit. Examples for coffee and cotton Water footprint of EU s cotton consumption blue water Water footprint of EU s cotton consumption green water

6 Water footprint of EU s cotton consumption gray water Water footprint of EU s cotton consumption blue water + green water + gray water The water footprint: making a link between consumption in one place and impacts on water systems elsewhere 2. National water scarcity in a global context [Photo: Gleick, 1993] Assessing international virtual water flows Virtual water trade flow (m 3 /yr) = Trade volume (ton/yr) Virtual water content (m 3 /ton) Global trade data: UN Statistics Division, New York FAOSTAT, FAO, Rome

7 International virtual water flows ( ) Crops and crop products Livestock and livestock products Industrial products Volume (billion m 3 /yr) Percentage (%) Total = 16% of global water use! Contribution of various agricultural products to the total sum of international virtual water flows Cocoa 9% Wheat 9% Soyabean 11% Coffee 7% Rice 6% Bovine meat 13% Cotton 4% Other 41% Other 25% Maize 3% Pork 3% Palm oil 3% Raw sugar cane 3% Milk products 2% Barley 2% Global volume of virtual water flow related to the trade of agricultural products = 1263 Gm3/yr National virtual water balances Regional virtual water balances (only agricultural trade) Net virtual water import (Gm3/yr) No Data Arrows show trade flows >10 Gm 3 /yr Water saving through trade National water saving Water saving in Egypt as a result of wheat import National water saving A water scarce nation can save water by importing a waterintensive commodity instead of producing it domestically. Global water saving International trade can save water globally if a water-intensive commodity is traded from an area with high to an area with low water productivity.

8 Global water saving through rice trade from USA to Mexico Global water loss through rice trade from Thailand to Indonesia Global water saving through agricultural product trade Global water saving The total global water saving as a result of the international trade of agricultural products = 352 Gm 3 /yr (period ) Equivalent to 6% of water use in agriculture in the world! Water use efficiency at different levels Key question: how to develop a coherent set of actions at different spatial levels to solve local water problems? Level Means Level Means Local water use efficiency User level Technology, water price, environmental awareness of the water user Local water use efficiency User level Technology, water price, environmental awareness of the water user Water allocation efficiency River basin level Allocate water where its value added is highest Water allocation efficiency River basin level Allocate water where its value added is highest Global water use efficiency Global level Virtual water trade from water-abundant to waterscarce regions Global water use efficiency Global level Virtual water trade from water-abundant to waterscarce regions

9 The concept of comparative advantage Country A Country B Production opportunities Country A has absolute advantage in both cotton and wheat Cotton 120 ton/mm 3 80 ton/mm 3 Wheat 480 ton/mm ton/mm 3 Opportunity cost Country A has comparative advantage in cotton Country B has comparative advantage in wheat 1 tonne of cotton 4 tonnes of wheat 5 tonnes of wheat 1 tonne of wheat 0.25 tonnes of cotton 0.20 tonnes of cotton The water footprint of a nation is the total amount of water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. Consumption is partly related to domestic resource use, and partly to resource use outside the country borders internal & external water footprint. National water footprint = national water use + virtual water import virtual water export Country/region National water use (Gm 3 /year) from the perspective of production from the perspective of consumption Australia Canada China Egypt EU India Japan Jordan USA The traditional statistics on water use WFP(m3/cap/yr) No Data Water footprint per capita

10 3000 Water footprint per capita Domestic water consumption Industrial goods Agricultural goods Global water footprint contribution by consumption category 2500 Water footprint (m 3 /cap/yr) Global average water footprint Water footprint related to consumption of industrial goods Water footprint related to domestic water consumption 4.6% 9.6% Water footprint related to consumption of agricultural goods 85.8% 0 China India Japan Pakistan Indonesia Brazil Mexico Russia Nigeria Thailand Italy USA Global water footprint = 7450 Gm3/yr Major determinants of a water footprint 1. Consumption characteristics Consumption volume Consumption pattern 2. Production circumstances Climate: evaporative demand at place of production Agricultural practice: water use efficiency Water dependency of nations Many countries have net import of water in virtual form and a significant external water footprint:: most of Europe North Africa Middle East Japan Mexico Europe Middle East and North Africa Virtual water exporters Virtual water importers Ukraine Italy France Germany Russia Spain Ireland Netherlands... Portugal Switzerland Net import: 16% Sweden of Rhine runoff Poland Belgium... Virtual water exporter Syria Virtual water importers Egypt Algeria Morocco Israel Jordan Tunesia Lebanon Dependency on virtual water import: 19% 33% 15% 74% 73% 17% 67%

11 below a threshold of 1500 m 3 /cap/yr, the demand for cereal import increases exponentially with decreasing water resources country case studies China and the Netherlands [Yang et al., 2003] Water footprint of China Virtual water transfers in China Agricultural goods 80.5% Agricultural goods 5.7% External source 6.5% 52 Gm 3 /yr Domestic water consumption 3.8% Industrial goods 0.8% Industri al goods 9.2% Total water footprint = 883 Gm 3 /yr = 702 m 3 /cap/yr South to North water transfer in China Virtual water trade vs. real interbasin water transfers Current water use in China: 550 billion m 3 /yr Proposed water transfers from South to North China: billion m 3 /yr Alternative: Stop the use of water in the North for making products that are traded to the South

12 Perverse trade Global water footprint of the Netherlands Water scarcity water use efficiency comparative advantage in water-intensive commodities virtual water export Examples: China: export of water-intensive products from waterscarce North to water-rich South. India: idem, from water-poor states such as Haryana to water-rich states such as Bihar. 82% of the Dutch water footprint is outside its own borders Water footprint of the Netherlands by product The external water footprint of The Netherlands 4% 7% 22% 30 7% Livestock and livestock products 25 13% Oil crops and oil from oil crops Coffee, tea, cocoa and tobacco Cereals and beer 10 9 m 3 water Oceania North America Africa Cotton products 10 Asia 7% Fruit, nuts and wine Other products 5 0 Latin America Europe 40% [Van Oel, Mekonnen & Hoekstra, 2008] [Van Oel, Mekonnen & Hoekstra, 2008] Environmental Water Scarcity Index The impact of the water footprint of the Netherlands: hotspots Water stress (withdrawal-to-availability) < > 1.0 [Smakhtin, Revenga & Doll, 2004] External water footprint for agricultural products (10 6 m 3 ) > 1000 Hotspots Main product category in hotspot Fruit, nuts and wine Oil crops and oil from oil crops Coffee, tea, cocoa and tobacco Livestock and livestock products Cotton products

13 The impact of the water footprint of the Netherlands: hotspots 3. The water footprint of energy m 3 water Cotton products Fruit, nuts and wine Cereals and beer Sugar and sugar crops Coffee, tea, cocoa and tobacco Livestock and livestock products Oil crops and oil from oil crops" 0.0 Other products Mexico South Africa Sudan Pakistan Turkey Spa in Ind ia China Water-energy The water sector is becoming more energy-intensive. desalination pumping deeper groundwater large-scale (inter-basin) water transfers Carbon Footprint The energy sector is becoming more water-intensive. biomass Water footprint of energy Primary energy carriers Non-renewable Natural gas 0.11 Global average water footprint (m 3 /GJ) Source Energy from biomass Energy products after combustion Liquid or solid energy products Coal 0.16 Crude oil 1.06 Uranium 0.09 Renewable Wind energy 0.00 Solar thermal energy 0.27 Hydropower 22 Starch crops Heat, electricity Bio-ethanol Sugar crops Heat, electricity Bio-ethanol Oil crops Heat, electricity Bio-diesel Trees Heat, electricity Charcoal Organic waste Heat, electricity Biomass energy 70 (range: ) [Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer, 2008] [Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer, 2008]

14 Source Energy from biomass examples Production-chain bio-energy ELECTRICITY BIOMASS HEAT RESIDUE Starch crops Sugar crops barley, cassava, maize, paddy rice, potato, sorghum, rye, wheat sugar beet, sugarcane CROP YIELD RESIDUE Oil crops Trees soybean, rapeseed, jatropha poplar EXTRACTION YIELD ETHANOL BIODIESEL [Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer, 2008] [Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer, 2008] Water footprint of biomass energy Water footprint of bio-ethanol from different crops Lowest value water footprint Global average water footprint Highest value water footprint m 3 per GJ ethanol crop water use [m /ha] water footprint of bio - energy [m /GJ] crop yield[ton/ha] energy yield[gj/ton] sugar beet potato sugar cane maize cassave barley rye paddy rice wheat sorghum [Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer, 2008] Global average water footprint of biofuels from different crops m 3 /GJ 450 m3 per GJ bio-ethanol or biodiesel Green water footprint Blue water footprint Sugar beet Potato Sugar cane Maize Cassave Barley Rye Paddy rice Wheat Soybean Rapeseed Sorghum [Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer, 2008] 1.4 litres of water for 1 km

15 32 litres of water for 1 km 70 litres of water for 1 km Conclusions WF of bio-energy >> WF of other forms of energy WF bio-heat or electricity < WF biofuels WF bio-ethanol < WF biodiesel Sugarbeet most water-efficient energy crop 200 litres of water for 1 km Large country differences 4. Water and business Water footprint of a business Two components: Operational water footprint: the direct water use by the producer for producing, manufacturing or for supporting activities. Supply-chain water footprint: the indirect water use in the producer s supply chain. [Gerbens-Leenes & Hoekstra, 2008]

16 The virtual water chain Water footprint of a business m 3 /yr green WF blue WF grey WF supply-chain WF operational WF Water footprint of a business Water footprint of a business Why businesses are interested: World Business Council on Sustainable Development: corporate image marketing perspective sustainability reporting is part of corporate social responsibility anticipate regulatory control financial risk related to water pollution risk of freshwater shortage for own operations risk of bottleneck in supply chain due to water shortage By 2010 many countries require companies to report their water footprints the total volume of water used directly or indirectly to produce goods and services. Meanwhile, the UN publicizes its report on the water footprint of countries. WBCSD (2006) Business in the world of water, Water scenarios to The CocaCola Company beverage industry The CocaCola Company beverage industry Water footprint of one coke (250 ml) 0.25 litre water 0.25 litre for production, washing 2.5 litre for PET bottle 50 litre for sugar 53 litre total New Delhi, 4 Oct 2006 "Today, The Coca-Cola Company pledges to replace every drop of water we use in our beverages and their production; to achieve balance in communities and in nature with the water we use. [ ] Working with WWF, we will seek opportunities to reduce water use in our supply chain, beginning with sugar where we will expand our existing collaboration on the Better Sugar Initiative." 6 May 2007 E. Neville Isdell, Chairman and CEO

17 5. From concept to practice Practical use of the concepts of virtual water & water footprint 1. Analysis providing understanding of the relation between production chains, trade and water use 2. Awareness raising showing the link between consumption and impacts of water use 3. Indicator for policy making labelling of products; certification of businesses; setting community standards with respect to water use; international negotiations on sustainable & equitable water use Target groups: governments, public, ngo s, businesses, academia From water footprint accounting to policy formulation Water footprint impact assessment Vulnerability of local water systems Current water stress in the places where the water footprint is localised Global map of where the water footprint is located Global map of where water systems are stressed 1 Spatiotemporalexplicit water footprint of a product individual community business 2 3 Impacts of the water footprint environmental social economic Reduce and offset the negative impacts of the water footprint Overlay Global hotspot map [Hoekstra, 2008] Global water footprint of a business located in the Netherlands Main producing regions Producing countries Hypothetical example Environmental water scarcity Water stress (withdrawal-to-availability) < > The way forward Hotspots Water stress (withdrawal-to-availability) < Hotspots are spots where (1) the business has a substantial water footprint (2) water is stressed. > 1.0 Main producing regions Hotspots

18 Mission: Promoting sustainable, equitable and efficient water use through development of shared standards on water footprint accounting and guidelines for the reduction and offsetting of impacts of water footprints. Network: bringing together expertise from academia, businesses, civil society, governments and international organisations. Water neutral: reducing and offsetting the impacts of water footprints Reduce: all what is reasonably possible should have been done to reduce the existing water footprint; do not undertake water-using activities if better alternatives are available. Offset: the residual water footprint is offset by making a reasonable investment in establishing or supporting projects that aim at the sustainable and equitable use of water. reasonably possible and reasonable investment include normative elements that need further specification and about which one needs to reach consensus. [Hoekstra, 2008] Consumer perspective Business perspective Reduction of the direct water footprint: water saving toilet, shower-head, etc. Reduction of the direct water footprint: water saving in own operations. Reduction of the indirect water footprint: substitution of a consumer product that has a large water footprint by a different type of product that has a smaller water footprint; substitution of a consumer product that has a large water footprint by the same product that is derived from another source with smaller water footprint. Reduction of the indirect water footprint: influencing suppliers; changing to other suppliers. transform business model in order to incorporate or better control supply chains. Ask product transparency from businesses and regulation from governments Government perspective Reduction of own organizational water footprint: Reducing the water footprint of public services. Supporting / forcing businesses: to make annual business water footprint accounts; to implement measures that reduce the impacts of business water footprints. Promoting product transparency through promoting a water label for water-intensive products; through water-certification of businesses. Shared responsibility and an incremental approach Consumers or consumer or environmental organizations push businesses and governments to address water use and impacts along supply chains. Some businesses act voluntarily in an early stage. Governments promote businesses in an early phase and implement regulations in a later phase.

19 International cooperation More info & publications: international protocol on water pricing minimum water rights tradable water footprint permits water-labelling of water-intensive products water-certification of industries and retailers international nutrient housekeeping shared guidelines on water-neutrality for businesses?