3.2 Impacts of Changing Trends in Resource Consumption
In this section you will understand:
The water–food–energy “nexus” and how its complex interactions affect:
- national water security, including access to safe water
- national food security, including food availability
- national energy security, including energy pathways and geopolitical issues
The implications of global climate change for the water–food–energy nexus
- Detailed examples of two countries with contrasting levels of resource security
"The water-food-energy nexus is central to sustainable development. Demand for all three is increasing, driven by a rising global population, rapid urbanization, changing diets and economic growth. Agriculture is the largest consumer of the world’s freshwater resources, and more than one-quarter of the energy used globally is expended on food production and supply.
The inextricable linkages between these critical domains require a suitably integrated approach to ensuring water and food security, and sustainable agriculture and energy production worldwide."
Food security: availability and access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet the dietary needs and food preferences of an active and healthy life
Water security: access to safe drinking water and sanitation
Energy Security: access to clean, reliable and affordable energy sources for cooking, heating, lighting, communication and productive use
Homework, read Jeremy Allouche, Food, energy and water: the politics of the nexus, The Guardian, 24 June, 2014
Summative assessment:
1. Draw two labeled diagrams describing the Food Energy Water Nexus of two countries with contrasting levels of resource security [5+5]
Include:
- proper diagram conventions
- consumption and production statistics and trends
- interrelationship between each component of the nexus
- Country specific examples (eg types of energy, crops grown, water purification system etc)
2. Using the same two countries from #1, hand-write a 5 or 6 paragraph essay answering the following IB style question:
Compare and contrast the consequences of global climate change on water, food and energy resource security between two named countries.
Your essay must include:
- A thesis statement
- In-text citations
- You may refer to the diagrams you drew in #1 in your essay
Possible sources:
- My Diigo, #water food energy Nexus
- Nagle and Cooke p. 491-496 and online CS
- Geographyalltheway.com
- www.water-energy-food.org
You will be graded using the Paper 1 and 2 markbands. [10 marks, but will count for 20/30 for full assessment]
Due date: Nov 20th
The disposal and recycling of consumer items, including international flows of waste
Exercise:
Answer one question in N&C p. 503, # 1-10 and share with the class
Discuss:
- What should we do with waste?
- How will waste management affect resource conservation?
- What solutions do you know of that could reduce waste and conserve resources?