Geo Core 3: Resource Consumption and Securty

Ethiopia Nexus

• 2nd most populous in Africa

• 26th poorest country

FOOD

• food insecurity affects 20 mil

• 80% of farmings use rain fed farming

• droughts compromise yield by 30%

WATER

• droughts reduce water for drinking, domestic use, farming

• River Nile has seasonal variability - 80% of flow is from Jul-Sept meaning the rest of the year does not have stable water source

• affects GERD’s ability to generate electricity

ENERGY

• under 50% of pop has electricity access

• hinders agricultural processing and irrigation

• rural areas have to rely on firewood - exacerbates climate change

Yemen Nexus

• civil war since 2014

• 80% of pop requiring humanitarian existence

FOOD

• 1/2 of pop face food insecurity

• ranked 126 of 127 on global hunger index

• lack of water for irrigation - affects crop yield and efficiency

• conflict destroys agricultural land/farmers too busy fighting to tend to land

• floods lead to saltwater intrusion, affects soil fertility

• bread prices increased by 300% since 2015

WATER

• airstrikes/conflict damaged 50% water infrastructure

• 15.4 mil without safe drinking water

• overextraction of aquifers reduces water supply

ENERGY

• conflict has damaged infrastructure

• disrupted fuel/energy —> no irrigation, no milling —> bread prices go up

Switz vs PNG Contrasting Resource Security

FOOD

Switz:

• imported food due to mountainous terrain

• lots of energy (14% total energy) for food transport

• intensive farming through precision agriculture + hydroponics to optimise water, but very energy intensive

PNG:

• subsistence farming - low production yield and not efficient

• requires energy to transport grown crops to city center

WATER
Switz:

• 1,800mm/yr rainfall

• rely on rainfall + glaciers but glacier loss by 2% yearly due to climate change

• 100% of pop has access to clean water

• possibility for desalination and waste water recycling in the future

PNG:

• 2,500/4,000mm/yr rainfall

• economic water scarcity - lack of infrastructure

• 40% of pop has access to clean water - access is expensive

• $2.6/day for daily water consumption but avg salary is $3.6

• 16/10,000 mortality rate from unsafe water

China GMC

China E Waste

Ethiopia GERD Renewable

New York Renewable

Japan Circular Economy