The study highlights some of the looming stresses facing our planet, such as freshwater shortages and rapid urbanisation. It also considers changes in the economic environment stemming from the global financial crisis.

Workshop at the IUCN World Conservation Forum 2012

Today at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, I had the good fortune of chairing a most interesting workshop on addressing resource scarcity. It was organised by Shell. Over the coming two decades, the growth of population and prosperity will significantly increase the global demand for energy, water and food, perhaps beyond planetary boundaries. This is known as the “stress nexus” and how are we to address it? - by Francis Vorhies

Collecting inputs for the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference preparatory process

The question of how to effectively use our water resources has been debated for decades, yet what we need more than ever is direct action at the field level.

A message from Felix Dodds, Executive Director of the Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future and International Steering Committee (ISC) Member

Water, energy, food - these three issues are the essential holy trinity of environmental sustainability. They are maddeningly intertwined and their effect reaches everyone – private, public, and social sectors alike. Because everyone is affected by each of these issues, and because they are so intertwined, everyone needs to be at the table. No one entity, no matter how large, can save us from ourselves.

Today at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, I had the good fortune of chairing a most interesting workshop on addressing resource scarcity. It was organised by Shell. Over the coming two decades, the growth of population and prosperity will significantly increase the global demand for energy, water and food, perhaps beyond planetary boundaries. This is known as the “stress nexus” and how are we to address it? - by Francis Vorhies

We all use fresh water every day; however, the fact remains that a large amount of the water used daily in the United States — and around the world — is by companies. That’s because water is not only vital to survival, it’s vital to our global economy. Energy generation, agricultural irrigation, industrial processes and mining, oil and gas activities all use water as a major input; in the U.S., these activities account for over 80 percent of our freshwater use. For this reason, water is a hot topic at this week’s Fortune Brainstorm GREEN conference underway in Laguna Nigel, California. At this gathering of some of the best and brightest thinkers in sustainability, CEOs and other leaders from corporations and NGOs are tackling tough environmental topics, including the energy-water-food nexus and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas production.

“The flapping of a butterfly’s wings may or may not have the capacity to trigger a tornado on another continent, but without a doubt, our food, water and energy systems have profound impacts upon each other (and us, and our planet). With that in mind, we’re excited to introduce our new GRACE website, which we built to reflect the interconnected nature of these three systems.”

With population rising, how can a water crisis be averted? After two unusually dry winters - which have left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers below normal levels - seven water companies across southern and eastern England are about to impose water restrictions. But experts say population growth and climate change could spell a much grimmer future.