Side The Energy Future We Want - Considering Water & Food in the Energy Debate

The side-event will stimulate contributions and insights from institutions and individual experts on strategies to include water and food in the energy debate as nations around the world develop new energy policies and evaluate the options they want to follow in response to the SE4All initiative. Contribute to the nexus debate by sharing your experience and expertise with representatives from the private sector, researchers, policy makers and water/energy experts around the world on the intricate links between water, energy and food. UNIDO, in collaboration with international partners, including IIASA, GIZ, BMZ, SE4ALL, OPEC and the Vienna Energy Club, is organising a side event on the water-energy- food nexus during the Vienna Energy Forum. Policy-makers and representatives from the private sector, researchers and water/energy/food experts from various international organizations around the world will discuss the intricate link between water, energy and food, and explore the opportunities presented by this link to address major global development challenges. Knowledge and awareness of the water-energy-food nexus can inspire international actions for integrated planning and implementation of energy programmes that seriously take water and food into consideration.

Backround

There are increasing calls globally to include water and food in the energy debate as nations around the world develop new energy policies and evaluate the options they want to follow in response to the UN Secretary-General's Initiative on Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All). The inclusion of water and food in the energy debate is relevant as energy decisions have a broad range of impacts on water and food production. For example, novel water and energy policies in agriculture could enhance food production and security. However, abstracting water for irrigation may affect reservoir levels and reduce hydropower capacity, with negative consequences for energy security. The water-energy-food nexus presents opportunities for policy-makers, business leaders, investors, non-governmental organizations and the public at large to manage dwindling resources that are important for addressing important global development challenges.

Objectives

The side event will provide a platform to discuss recent international undertakings and progress on the water-energy-food nexus and to seek contributions and insights from institutions and individual experts that will inspire international action on this very important subject.

Date

Date - 29 May 2013 Time - 14:30 to 16:00 Location - Radetzky II http://www.unido.org/media-centre/upcoming-events/vienna-energy-forum-2013/side-events.html