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 affecting nexus

• 80% of population in need of humanitarian assistance

FOOD

• 17.1mil face food insecurity

• Ranked 126 (of 127) on global hunger index

• Affected by lack of water for irrigation which reduces crop yield and efficiency

• Floods lead to saltwater intrusion, affecting soil fertility 

• Bread prices skyrocketing 300% increase 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 → disrupts bread prices

• 55% of national grid no longer functional

• Lack of imports of oil/fossil fuels as planes cannot land in Yemen - Yemen rial also lost 200% of its value so energy access is $$$

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

• no till farming - carbon sequestration

PNG:

• subsistence farming - low production yield and not efficient

• requires energy to transport grown crops to city center

• climate change mitigation because lack of machinery

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

ENERGY

Switz:

• 27% of energy from renewables

• 60% HEP

• 100% of pop with electricity access

• less % of renewables due to more diversity in energy sources, including nuclear power

HEP

• 220 dams

• 680 HEP plants

• but HEP fell by 10% in 2022 due to droughts

• govt 2050 energy strategy to start new plants

PNG:

• 52% of energy from renewables

• 69% HEP

• 29% geothermal

• 54% of pop with access to electricity

• govt 2030 goal to increase electricity access

DEVELOPMENT
Switz:

• HDI 0.946 - ranked 2nd

• $59,000 GDP

PNG:

• 0.543 - ranked 155th

• $3,700 GDP

China GMC

• GMC represents 25% of pop

• after 1978 economic reform, GDP increased by 9%, 2nd largest global economy

FOOD

• shift to resource intensive diets

• meat consumption increased by 43kg past 35 years

• 10% dairy consumption increase

• 20% of population food insecure

WATER

• 70% water use from industry/agriculture

• urban water use 220liters/day

ENERGY

• coal 60% of energy

• energy consumption increased by 550% since 2000

• 315 mil vehicles in 2024

CLIMATE CHANGE

• world’s largest CO2 emitter, dubbed world’s manufacturing hub

China E Waste

• imported 70% of global ewaste tile 2018

• 20-50mil tonnes/yr

• due to cheap plentiful labour, lack of env regulations

GUIYU GUANGDONG

• largest ewaste site

• 80% of pop in ewaste business

• highest level of cancer causing toxins globally

2018 LEGISLATION

• blocked ALL foreign waste imports

• placed pressure on other countries to shift attitudes towards recycling/disposal, or they sent waste to places like Nigeria - pressure on LIC

UK

• sent 2/3 ewaste to China in past

• after ban, they committed to recycling/reusing/repairing —> circular economy

Japan Circular Economy

: systems thinking approach where outputs are recycled back to inputs to reduce levels of waste

• Generates 43 mil tonnes of waste annually

• Only 20% energy is from renewables BUT govt. 2030 plan for 50% reduction by giving companies $1.3bil subsidies for 100% renewable use and investing in hi-tech wind and solar farms that are energy efficient

• Relies heavily on imports (few natural resources)

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

• Aims to reduce overall material use through sustainable production (energy from manufacturing decreased by 15% since 2010 through more energy efficient technology)

• Recycling - recycles 65% of waste

• Kamikatzu town - zero waste town with 80% recycling rate

• Eco-industrial parks - focuses on waste reduction, resource recycling, fostering supply chain collaboration by linking industries for energy sharing/water and resource reusing

  • Kawasaki park with 99% construction recycling and 85% PET recycling, saving $85mil/year

CULTURE

• Japan has a ‘no waste’ culture and concept, emphasising the importance of nature through Buddhism/Shinto religion

NEXUS IMPACTS

• FOOD: 70% of Kitchen waste converted into compost

• Increases crop yields by 12%

• WATER: 80% water recycling rate

• Done through wastewater treatment, water recycling etc.

• ENERGY: 20% renewable energy

• Energy from manufacturing reduced

• generates 43mil tonnes/yr

• 20% of energy from renewables

• heavily relies on imports (minimal natural resources)

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

• aims to reduce overall material use

• sustainable production - more efficient tech means energy has reduced by 15% since 2010

• recycles 65% of waste

• kamikatzu town - first zero waste town with 80% recycling rate

• ecoindustrial parks - waste reduction, recycling

CULTURE

• ‘no waste’ culture in japan - importance of nature through buddhism/shinto religion

NEXUS

• 70% of kitchen waste into compost — crop yields increased by 12%

• 80% water recycling rate — through wastewater treatment and water reyclcing

• 20% renewable energy with manufacturing energy reduced by 12%

New York Renewable

• 80×50 goal reduce carbon footprint by 80% by 2050

• target 70% renewables by 2030

• solar panels contribute 4%

• 6gigawatts installed by 2025

• 600,000 homes powered by solar panels

ENERGY

• provides energy access

• saves 10% on electricity bills

• minimal operation cost compared to HEP

WATER

• minimal water usage in operations

FOOD

• development of agrivoltaics (integrating agriculture with solar energy) - solar farms can work WITH land for agriculture instead of competing for land

• aids climate resilience by reducing fossil fuel dependency

Ethiopia GERD Renewable

: grand ethiopian renaissance dam

• 6450 MW HEP project

• expected to double electricity generation

• 94% completed as of 2024

• plays a role in energy production AND water storage and management

CAUSES

• less than 50% of pop with electricity access

• GERD will allow 2/3 of pop access

• seasonal variability of Nile (80% rain from Jul-Sept) but GERD ensures year round water supply

OBJECTIVES

• increase energy production

• increase water supply

• creates 12,000 jobs

• regulates water flow

• water used for irrigation - 80% of farmers rely on rainfed farming

GEOPOLIT

• in river Nile

• Nile passes through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, but Egypt has control over the river

• GERD developed without agreements from other countries - led to conflict as other countrie worried that GERD would minimise their water supply