15 нояб. 2016
Energy // Adding to Complexity: Climate Change in the Energy – Water Nexus
By Diego Rodriguez, Anna Delgado Martin and Antonia Sohns. Although the Water–Energy (and Climate) Nexus varies by region, challenges in securing enough water for energy and energy for water will increase with population and economic growth. The relationship between water and energy is already critical in many regions, and the resulting stresses are compounded as demand grows from emerging economies and developing countries. Water constraints have already adversely impacted the energy sector in many parts of the world. This article looks at existing and future challenges.
The rapid adoption of renewables over the past decade has been driven by ambitions to improve energy security, expand energy access, mitigate climate change and stimulate socio-economic development. The distributed, sustainable, environment- friendly and less resource consumptive nature of renewable energy means that they can also reduce strains on specific elements of the Nexus. They can further sustainable development objectives and assist governments in optimizing resource security across all sectors. However, quantitative and qualitative knowledge on the role renewables can play in addressing Nexus-related challenges remains dispersed and limited. As a first step towards bridging the knowledge gap, IRENA undertook a study entitled ‘Renewable energy and the Nexus’ to bring to the forefront the opportunities presented by renewables. The report adopted a life-cycle approach to identifying renewables intervention in the water and food sector. This chapter presents some of the key findings from the study.