by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Laos), TheunHinboun Power Company, Statkraft Oslo, Electrcité du Laos, and GMS Lao Company Ltd.

The U.S. National Intelligence Council identifies the Water-Energy-Food Nexus as one of the mega trends for the coming decades. “The increasing nexus among food, water, and energy - in combination with climate change - will have far-reaching effects on global development over the next 15-20 years. In a tectonic shift, demand for these resources will grow substantially owing to an increase in the global population from 7.1 billion today to 8.3 billion by 2030.”

One possible new impetus for development is the idea of so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which has emerged in the run-up to the Rio+20 Summit. It is still unclear if these goals will find sufficient backing, what they would include and when they would be implemented. Yet, some important aspects have to be considered in order to avoid mentioned past shortcomings of both UN processes. A balance and interconnectedness of issues is essential both to emphasize the interlinkages and to address the criticism of an environmental bias in the Rio Process. Importantly, central issues like poverty eradication must not be neglected. Additionally, measuring success is of importance. Here, measuring techniques as well as the quality of data collection have to be taken seriously. Institutional backing is equally important. This is relevant for the structures of international governance of development which have to be embedded in competent institutions and for implementation on national and local level where often-praised “ownership” has to be realized. Content: From MDGs to SDGs? - Balancing issues - Interconnecting issues - Measuring success - Institutional backing - Strong signal for post 2015 - by Stine Klapper and Nicole Kranz

Industrial processes rely on water for cooling, chemical solvents, cleaning, just to name a few. Forty percent of the worlds’ food is produced from irrigated lands. However, much of this would not be possible without energy; which is a critical input to pump, move, and treat the water required by municipalities, industries and agriculture. Ironically, however, much of this energy would not be available without water to turn turbines, wash inputs, or cool equipment. Thus in many cases use of one resource is inextricably linked to use of the other - hence, the energy-water nexus.

Held at the Second Annual Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa Addis Ababa, 19-20 October 2012, by Gisela Prasad, Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town

by Dr Larry C.Y. Wong, Program Director, TIES, held at the National Convention on Food Security in Malaysia, 15-16 Oct 2012, Putrajaya, Malaysia

The Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) promotes women’s and men’s equitable access to and management of safe and adequate water, for domestic supply, sanitation, food security and environmental sustainability. GWA offers a number of resources on its website, notably its resource guide on gender and IWRM, aimed at assisting water and gender practitioners and professionals as well as persons responsible for gender mainstreaming.

The UN-Water/Africa (formerly IGWA) comprises many UN agencies, including the Economic Commission for Africa, United Nations Environmental Program, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,The United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Water and Sustainable Development Programme in Africa, The New Partnership for Africa’s Development, African Development Bank Group. The collaboration began in 1992 as the Interagency Group for Water in Africa (IGWA) which was formed as African regional counterpart at the initiative of ECA of in response to a request by the UNACC Subcommittee on Water Resources, to coordinate and harmonize water activities in Africa by various UN and other subregional IGOs. The other objective of IGWA was to promote joint collaborative activities in water sector in Africa by these agencies. The UNECA was the Secretariat of IGWA s and continues to serve as the Secretariat of UN-Water/Africa. Members of UN-Water/Africa meet routinely to review progress, to exchange information and to plan follow-up-activities.

According to estimates by the International Land Coalition based at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 57 million hectares of land have been leased to foreign investors since 2007. Current research has focused on human rights issues related to inward investment in land but has been ignorant of water resource issues and the challenges of managing scarce water. This handbook will be the first to address inward investment in land and its impact on water resources in Africa. The geographical scope of this book will be the African continent, where land has attracted the attention of risk-taking investors because much land is under-utilised marginalized land, with associated water resources and rapidly growing domestic food markets. The successful implementation of investment strategies in African agriculture could determine the future of more than one billion people. An important factor to note is that sub-Saharan Africa will, of all the continents, be hit hardest by climate change, population growth and food insecurity. Sensible investment in agriculture is therefore needed, however, at what costs and at whose expense? The book will also address the livelihoods theme and provide a holistic analysis of land and water grabbing in sub-Saharan Africa. Four other themes will addressed: politics, economics, the environment and the history of land investments in sub-Saharan Africa.

This site is meant to serve as a resource for credible, accurate information on water. It is also aimed at increasing global awareness of our water challenges and the need for thoughtful solutions. In that regard, we hope Growing Blue is a catalyst and platform for dialogue on this important topic. Water is one of the most critical factors in determining how and at what pace our world can support humanity’s continued growth. That story needs to be told with a greater voice and to a broader audience, now and in the future. In consultation with industry colleagues, scientists, academia and environmental professionals at leading NGOs, Growing Blue was created by Veolia Water in consultation with The Nature Conservancy, the Clean Water America Alliance, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, The Earth Institute at Columbia University, Global Water Intelligence and Cardno ENTRIX.

A major international conference was held by CEP-BCI in February 2012. The conference benchmarked GMS economic growth between 2001 and 2010 and its impact on environmental and social development as well as provided an outlook for the next decade. Topics discussed included known and emerging economic, environmental, and climate change challenges in the context of food, water and energy security, and participants charted out key strategic thrusts for the coming decade. More than 233 delegates, including senior government officials from the GMS countries, private sector representatives and development partners attended. The conference outcomes have provided important inputs to the GMS program in general, and CEP-BCI Phase II in particular. During the next decade, emphasis will need to be placed on the management of food, water and energy resources in the GMS, which requires a careful balance of economic and environmental interests and better management of natural resources.

by Alain Vidal CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food

Freshwater management challenges are increasingly common. Allocation of limited water resources between agricultural, municipal and environmental uses now requires the full integration of supply, demand, water quality and ecological considerations. The Water Evaluation and Planning system, or WEAP, aims to incorporate these issues into a practical yet robust tool for integrated water resources planning. WEAP is developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute’s U.S. Center. WEAP Hightlights: Integrated Approach: Unique approach for conducting integrated water resources planning assessments - Stakeholder Process: Transparent structure facilitates engagement of diverse stakeholders in an open process - Water Balance: A database maintains water demand and supply information to drive mass balance model on a link-node architecture - Simulation based: Calculates water demand, supply, runoff, infiltration, crop requirements, flows, and storage, and pollution generation, treatment, discharge and instream water quality under varying hydrologic and policy scenarios - Policy Scenarios: Evaluates a full range of water development and management options, and takes account of multiple and competing uses of water systems - User-friendly interface: Graphical drag-and-drop GIS-based interface with flexible model output as maps, charts and tables - Model integration: Dynamic links to other models and software, such as QUAL2K, MODFLOW, MODPATH, PEST, Excel and GAMS

by Stuart Orr, WWF International

by Janos J. Bogardi, Executive Officer of GWSP

Video description of the NEXUS. Looking at a practical example of the interconnectivity in the natural and human environment between the food, water and energy. An initial introduction and perhaps inspiration for those looking to produce better examples of how the Nexus might influence them.

The paper provides an overview of the current status of large scale artificial water storage development and its functions in the water, energy and food security nexus. The paper presents a typology of water storage structures and provides an analysis of the risks, benefits and trade-offs posed by different storage options. It also highlights good practices and lessons learned from past experiences and explores emerging opportunities for water storage schemes to enhance water, energy and food security in the future.

Drawing on the latest data and policy developments, the 2012 edition of the World Energy Outlook presents analytical insights into trends in energy markets and what they mean for energy security, environmental protection and economic development. It sets out updated projections of energy demand, production, trade, investment and carbon-dioxide emissions, broken down by country, fuel and sector, to 2035. The water-energy nexus is one central chapter.

This publication describes a vision for change. It provides a snapshot of the opportunities, as well as the questions, presented by a shift to a green economy for communities, for governments and for businesses. It describes glimpses and gives examples of a transition that is already underway but has yet to be taken to scale. It connects some of the dots between the many different actions going on at all levels - civil society, government, finance, business - to show how we can evolve our economies to work for people and planet. This is our vision for a green economy - one founded on fairness and inclusion, and respecting planetary boundaries.

Co-chaired by Keshab Man Shakya, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Nepal, and Pema Gyamtsho, Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan, this side event highlighted local, national and regional knowledge-based solutions that are inclusive and supportive to the water, food and energy nexus and have promoted green growth strategies and reduced poverty. Organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Government of Nepal, Mountain Partnership, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), EVK2CNR, Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA).

Presentation on the ERD 2011/12 by Dirk Willem te Velde and Imme Scholz, given at the UNCSD (Rio+20) on 19 June 2012

CGIAR calls for a focus on the entire agricultural landscape as an integrated system, which recognizes that isolated solutions will not reduce risks or achieve required progress in the same way as integrated approaches will. CGIAR calls for a focus on harmonizing food security and environmental sustainability through agricultural research and development. This will require us to minimize the harmful effects of agriculture on the environment through more efficient management of water, soils and agricultural inputs. CGIAR calls for the sustainable management of complex agricultural systems while maximizing agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods and food/nutrition security of the poor.

Twenty years after the international community meeting in Rio de Janeiro agreed on the triad of ecological, economic and social sustainability, the subject of the green economy is gaining ground in debates on the environment and development. Many international organisations have developed their own definitions and programmes designed to boost economic growth, create jobs and protect natural resources all at the same time. In view of the ecological, social and economic problems caused by the overuse of natural resources and the continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions, the question of a sustainable economic order is more urgent than ever. Even the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or the Rio+20 Summit for short, is dominated by the green economy debate, which is almost threatening to supplant the established concept of sustainability. Although it is emphasised that sustainable development remains the contracting parties’ principal objective and that the achievement of the green economy is only a means to that end, most of the proposed measures and the debates have so far focused on strengthening environmentally compatible growth, with little attention paid to possible unintended effects on society and ecosystems. For human development and ecosystems, however, the water sector plays a key role in the implementation of many green economy projects. This paper therefore analyses the extent to which the green economy may help the water sector to achieve sustainable development and to meet the major challenges. It reaches the conclusion that, while the attention paid to the water sector that accompanies the debate on the green economy is good, the concept has serious weaknesses.

This paper aims at identifying and recommending best practices and policies from global business to address the water-energy nexus, while outlining potential drivers of innovation.

The 2012 edition of the LPR highlights the tremendous pressure that humanity is putting on our planet. We are using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide. By 2030, even two planets will not be enough. Our natural capital is declining and our Ecological Footprint is increasing. Urgent action is needed to ensure that we can live in harmony with nature. We can create more just and equitable societies - providing food, water and energy for all - through the sustainable management of the Earth’s natural capital.

We all need food, water and energy. These come from nature. We need nature. World leaders need to react to the natural crisis we are facing, rethink how we use and manage the earth’s resources, and redesign a sustainable future. Rio+20 is an opportunity for governments to get serious by building on the success of the first Earth Summit in 1992, and the sustainable development successes since then. A video message by Jim P. Leape of WWF.

Nuclear technologies are used daily to find and protect sustainable sources of fresh water, produce energy and food, while providing researchers the tools to study the ocean’s past and predict its future. The IAEA helps its 154 member countries safely employ these technologies to ensure peace, health and prosperity throughout the world.

Is water the “gold of the 21st century,” potentially triggering “water wars” between countries sharing the precious resource? Such scenarios proliferated in the 1990s, but today a different paradigm is taking root. Politicians are beginning to emphasise the peace dividend of water cooperation; and development agencies are now supporting transboundary water cooperation projects around the world. And even at the highest level of political discourse, water cooperation has been identified as an entry point for broader peacebuilding.

A green economy is necessary if sustainable development is to be realized. However, as this report emphasizes, a green economy can also, if accompanied by the right policy mix, create more and better jobs, lift people out of poverty and promote social inclusion. In fact, the growth model of the past few decades has been inefficient, not only economically, but also from environmental, employment and social perspectives. A new development model – one which puts people, fairness and the planet at the core of policy-making – is urgently needed, and is eminently achievable. More fundamentally, this report demonstrates that employment and social inclusion must be integral parts of any sustainable development strategy and must be included in policies that address climate change and ensure the preservation of the environment. In particular, the report assesses the sectoral, employment and income implications of the transition to a green economy. It highlights the necessary conditions, policy prescriptions and good practices required to ensure that the green economy is characterized by gains in job quality, reductions in poverty and improvements in social inclusion.

by Andrew Etzinger, ESKOM, held on the SAWEF Conference in South Africa

This statement reflects a collective opinion of the UN-Water Members and comprises recommendations to the participants of the UNCSD 2012 as well as a list of potential actions in support of green economic approaches.

Unless the transatlantic community takes the lead in addressing the challenges arising from the unprecedented global demand for land, energy, food, water, and minerals, severe market disruptions are likely to occur, as are increased chances of violent conflict at interstate and local levels in many “hot spots,” especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Interview with Dirk Willem te Velde, team leader for drafting of the ERD 2011/12

Global Environment Alert Service (GEAS) of UNEP produces bulletin on peak oil and food security: While we already face a situation of food insecurity caused by climate change, exploding populations and an economic downturn, “peak oil” will make it harder to maintain food security, and in the longer-term, could further accelerate global warming. UNEP’s latest GEAS bulletin urges a reduction in fossil-fuel use in agriculture to avoid food shortages and higher food prices in the future. Innovative farming techniques that are less reliant on oil can help ensure a more sustainable food production system while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of fossil fuels.

by Dirk Willem te Velde (ODI), held on 19 April 2012, Washington Commonwealth-Francophonie-G20 - Development Working Group Outreach Meeting

The AWS International Water Stewardship Standard (the Standard) is designed to be an international, ISEAL-compliant, standard that defines a set of water stewardship principles, criteria, and indicators for how water should be stewarded at a site and watershed level in a way that is environmentally, socially, and economically beneficial. The Standard is intended to provide water stewards with an approach for evaluating the existing processes and performances within their sites and watersheds, and ensuring that responsible water stewardship actions are in place to minimize negative impacts and maximize positive impacts. The first public consultation will be open to stakeholders until June 15th, 2012.

1-4 May 2012 Inn at the Forks, Winnipeg, Manitoba

by Margaret Catley-Carlson, held at the South African Water, Energy and Food Forum: “Managing the Mega-Nexus”, 18-19 April 2012

The areas of energy, water and food policy have numerous interwoven concerns ranging from ensuring access to services, to environmental impacts to price volatility. These issues manifest in very different ways in each of the three “spheres”, but often the impacts are closely related. Identifying these interrelationships a priori is of great importance to help target synergies and avoid potential tensions. Systems thinking is required to address such a wide swath of possible topics. This paper briefly describes some of the linkages at a high-level of aggregation – primarily from a developing country perspective – and via case studies, to arrive at some promising directions for addressing the nexus.

by GE: Megatrends, shocks and constraints with regard to the Energy-Water Nexus and the Energy-Food Nexus

The purpose of the UNEP Foresight Process is to produce, every two years, a careful and authoritative ranking of the most important emerging issues related to the global environment. UNEP aims to inform the UN and wider international community about these issues on a timely basis, as well as provide input to its own work programme and that of other UN agencies, thereby fulfilling the stipulation of its mandate: “keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action”.

Water security for a green economy – Institutional effectiveness – Integrated approaches – Leadership – Future strategy

World’s top 10 rivers at risk – by

Dams – Blessing or curse? Over 48,000 large dams are in operation worldwide.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment, and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector — to address global environmental issues.

Launched in Brussels on 16 May 2012, the 2012 European Report on Development (ERD) highlights predicted increases in the scarcity of natural resources – with demand for water and energy expected to rise by 40% and demand for food by 50% before we reach 2030.

The South African Water, Energy and Food forum could not have come at a more opportune time. COP17 has come and gone and with the new year in full swing, many remain doubtful about whether or not all the hype has left us with a successful outcome to the complicated international climate change negotiations process; and about what the outcomes to this process mean for business. — by Aimée Girdwood

German-Rwandan Side event on the Nexus on 22nd March before the 3rd Intersessional Meeting of the UNCSD

On 22 February 2013, the Energy Nexus Consultation, a special segment of the global energy consultation of the World We Want online consultations, will be closed and wrapped up.

This side event aims to contribute to the “The Future We Want” outcome document by highlighting the need to better manage mountain natural resources as global public goods supplying water for life, food for health, and clean energy for livelihoods.

Second Trade Union Assembly on Labour and Environment, Rio de Janeiro

The Africa Water Week (aww) is organized by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) and represents a political commitment at the highest level with over 1000 participants from governments, regional institutions, international partners, the private sector, the scientific community, civil society, and the media from all over the world, and in particular Africa, meeting to discuss and collectively seek solutions to Africa’s water and sanitation challenges.

The evidence for climate change is now considered to be unequivocal and it can cause huge impact on global water resources. Substantial adaptation is needed to ensure management of water resources for food, energy and environment.

The 2012 theme for World Environment Day is Green Economy: Does it include you? Evidently, there are two parts to this theme and the first tackles the subject of the Green Economy. This is where some people shut off their minds because they find the concept of the Green Economy a little too complex to understand. On the contrary, the Green Economy is really something that is applicable all around you and it is easy to imagine how one can fit in it.

The 12th edition of Green Week, the biggest annual conference on European environment policy.

Held every four years, the Congress aims to improve how we manage our natural environment for human, social and economic development.

Rio de Janeiro

Resource security matters for India. It has to simultaneously secure energy, water and other minerals to support economic growth; meet basic needs for food, fuel and water for a growing population; and manage the environmental constraints and consequences of increased resource use.

What cost are you willing to pay for energy independence? Is it enough to invest in pricier light bulbs to increase your energy efficiency and reduce your energy bill? What about our natural resources? Does it make sense to sacrifice our water quality to achieve a lower price at the pump?

There’s an old Western phrase, “Whiskey’s for drinking; water’s for war.” The quip captures the significance of water - water is essential to life. It is also fundamental to economic well-being - with a nexus to food, energy, industrial production, and a host of goods and services.

In India, like in the United States, the power sector is the single largest user of water – more than agriculture. Presuming that India could solve its power problems and build more coal, they would run out of fresh water even faster.

In a wide-ranging interview with Sanjeev Chadha, President, PepsiCo Middle East & Africa, we discussed the evolving relationship between business and society, water management and sustainability at PepsiCo, shortages and scarcity particularly in the Middle East and Africa, the interconnectivity of water with a number of other critical issues, and key leadership lessons learned from a business perspective in tackling some of the world’s most pressing problems.

As World Water Week 2012 begins, we talk with SEI’s executive director about the key themes and how SEI is addressing them. Johan L. Kuylenstierna is moderating and participating in several events at World Water Week. In this interview, he draws on SEI’s work and on his own insights and experience to identify key challenges of the “nexus” - and how SEI can help policy-makers tackle them.

China’s plan to rapidly expand large coal mines and power plants in its arid northern and western provinces threatens to drain precious water supply and could trigger a severe water crisis, a report by environmental activists Greenpeace said on Tuesday. China intends to boost coal production in provinces including Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Ningxia, with output in those areas expected to reach 2.2bn tonnes, or 56% of the country’s forecast production of 3.9bn tonnes, by 2015.

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.

Researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) have published an article, titled “Managing the Water-Land-Energy Nexus for Sustainable Development,” arguing that systemic thinking and integrated solutions are needed to successfully develop and implement sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the follow-up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

Bangladesh will advocate for a “green economy” approach that does not constrain poorer nations’ potential to grow at the U.N. conference on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro this week. “We are concerned the green economy path will hamper our economic development. How effective will it be for poverty eradication?” Quazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed, convener of Bangladesh’s climate change negotiation team, told AlertNet. “Unless poor countries get adequate funds from the major polluter (nations), it won’t be possible for them to green their economy.

No resource is more fundamental than water to the health and security of people and the environment. Yet the alarm bells are ringing as this finite, yet essential, natural resource comes under increasing pressure from growing demand, poor management and climate change creating a growing global water challenge. With Rio+20 on the immediate horizon, and a focus on water, energy and food, water will be an issue that world and business leaders are likely to find absorbed into their agendas - and rightly so. Water scarcity and stress is not only an issue of protecting ecosystem and biodiversity, but is also presents a real and present risk to local communities, business and world economies.

Hunderttausenden Menschen droht eine ökologische Katastrophe: Ein gigantischer äthiopischer Staudamm könnte dazu führen, dass der Turkana-See in Kenia noch weiter austrocknet. Die Region gilt jetzt schon als eine der gewalttätigsten Afrikas - die Konflikte würden sich weiter verschärfen.

The Association of the Luxembourg Funds Industry talks to David Harris, Director for Responsible Investment at the FTSE Group, London about Environmental Investing.

Under the theme, “Water, Energy and Food Security: Call for Solutions”, more than 1,000 water professionals from India and abroad participated in the first India Water Week in April, in New Delhi. In an indication of the role of water as of critical importance to economic prosperity, the week was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Global demand for energy will increase 30 percent by 2030, according to estimates, but in regions that are experiencing rapid economic growth, the increased demand for energy will lead to increased demand for water. The conflicting nature of achieving both water and energy security is exacerbated by a lack of institutional policy frameworks that integrate both concepts. However, the upcoming UN Rio+20 Sustainable Development Conference could provide an opportunity to change that.

Lowering consumption in the developed world, renewables, ending land grabs, a price for natural resources, private sector investment – what’s the answer?

The alternate energy sources in Pakistan need to be utilized in order to meet the demand of the country. Pakistan is amongst the countries that divert the maximum amount of water for irrigation but has the minimum water productivity and researchers need to make their contribution in optimal use of water resources.

Tensions over land, water and food: The Arab awakening was driven not only by political and economic stresses, but, less visibly, by environmental, population and climate stresses

Sieben Milliarden Menschen bevölkern die Erde - und alle wollen essen, trinken, einkaufen, in Wohlstand leben. Schon jetzt verbrauchen sie mehr, als der Planet langfristig bieten kann. Forscher wollen der verhängnisvollen Entwicklung mit neuen Technologien begegnen. Doch das allein reicht nicht.