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
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
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
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.
2. Nexus Challenges in South Asia
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
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
Challenges: Irrigation Trend, Water Stress 5000 4500 Irrigated area in Bangladesh 000 ha 4509 Irrigated land as % of arable land, Bangladesh 4000 60 56 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 501 1841 50 40 30 20 10 5.8 20.8 0 1965 1985 2002 Irrigated area in India 000 ha 70,000 60,000 57,178 50,000 40,637 40,000 30,000 25,523 20,000 10,000 0 1965 1985 2002 0 1965 1985 2002 Irrigated land as % of arable land, India 40 35 35 30 25 25 20 16 15 10 5 0 1965 1985 2002
Challenges: Irrigation Trend, Water Stress Irrigated land in Nepal, 000 ha 1,200 1,135 1,000 800 673 600 400 200 77 0 1965 1985 2002 Irrigated land as % of arable land, Nepal 40 36 35 29 30 25 20 15 10 4 5 0 1965 1985 2002 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 2,000 0 17,810 15,548 11,139 1965 1985 2002 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 77.6 83 62.9 1965 1985 2002
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
Nexus Challenge: Climate change 1990-2080 (% 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 -18.2 to -22.1 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
3. Role of Himalayas in Water, Energy, and Food Security in South Asia
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
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
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
Monsoon Regulation Himalayas regulates microclimates, wind & monsoon circulation,
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
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
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
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
Thank you
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