3.2 - Impacts of Changing Trends in Resource Consumption

What is the Water-Food-Energy Nexus?

refers to the connections between the consumption and supply of natural resources. Changes in any of the three resource areas will impact the security of the others. If resources are sustainably managed, understanding of links is essential. All of these resources are of equal importance.

Water security

Sufficient water of high enough quality to meet the population's needs. Global demand is to increase which creates water stress.

Food security

Physical, social, and economic access at all times to safe and nutritious food sufficient to meet dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Climate change and growing population increase risk of food security also due to increase in prices. In HIC, there is often a food surplus and food waste.

Energy security

having access to enough reliable and affordable energy sources to meet one's needs

Water stress

When the supply of water is below 1700m cubed a year per person. 25 countries face this

Water scarcity

When the supply is below 1000m cubed a year per person

Energy gap

When a country cannot meet the demand for energy using its resources, thus they have to import the energy to meet the demand and the country is not energy secure. Fossil fuels are still used a lot.

Example of WFE nexus

A lack of available water to cool power plants in India led to the loss of 8.2 terawatt hours of energy because the power plants couldn't function.

Food production and its impact on energy and water security

1. Energy security: increased demand for food increases the use of energy because energy is used to grow, transport and process food

2. Water security: 70% of freshwater are for agriculture, pollution from food enters water sources, reducing freshwater availability.

Energy and its impact on food and water security

1. Food: solar farms could be used for growing crops, mining for fossil fuels creates waste, polluting farmlands

2. Water: use of water for energy production, fracking uses large quantities of water combined with chemicals

Water and its impact on food and energy security

1. Food: urbanisation increases demand for water, reducing amount available for food

2. Energy: energy is used for treating waste water, water shortages impact energy generation due to a lack of water for cooling.

What are some challenges for the nexus concept?

1. Resource management crosses international boundaries, making stakeholder cooperation essential

2. Participation of stakeholders it not equal, govt and TNCs have more power than local communities

3. Balance between the three resources is not always achieved when main focus of projects is on one issue

Case Study: Resource Security in Denmark

- Some things that affect WFE security: Rising sea levels, increased precipitation

- Denmark has a water surplus - all population has access to safe drinking water and obtained from groundwater sources

- use of water is split equally between agriculture, domestic and industrial use

- Threats to water security: salt intrusion begins o affect quality of groundwater due to rising sea levels. Salivation due to increased demand on the groundwater

- Food security is high and imports little

- Threats to food security: rising temps lead to longer growing seasons, increasing precipitation

- Energy security is high, imports little, has a great energy mix, low reliance on fossil fuels and everyone has access to electricity

Impact of climate change on water supplies

Unpredictable rainfall, looks, droughts, rising sea levels. Impacts on the amount of available freshwater: melting of glaciers, salinisation of groundwater, higher temperatures, desertification

Impact of climate change on food supplies

Increased temps and changes in rainfall patterns affect crop yields. Decreasing freshwater supplies affect availability of irrigation and water for livestock. Crops are impacted through declining water quality, soil degradation and desertification. Fish: change in fish breeding patterns, populations and increased algae growth contaminates seafood

Impact of climate change on energy supply

Changing weather patterns may reduce cloud cover leading to increased solar power and changing wind patterns impact the use of wind energy. Less precipitation leads to challenges in growing biofuels: increased water scarcity will reduce the amount of water available for irrigation.

Solid Domestic Waste

Waste produced by households as opposed to that produced by other sectors of an economy. This is increasing. Volume and composition of solid domestic waste varies overtime due to: consumption patterns, technological advancements and waste management practices.

organic waste

Organic waste: Biodegradable waste that can be broken down (food waste, garden waste). A lot of this waste and varies due to cutlural practices, dietary habits and seasonal factors. This may change due to food preferences, increased consumption of processes foods and advancements in technologies

What factors influence the volume of paper and cardboard waste?

Digitalisation trends (e.g., reading news on devices) and efforts to promote recycling.

Why has plastic waste increased significantly in recent decades?

Due to the widespread use of plastics in various sectors.

What influences the composition and management of plastic waste?

Changes in consumer behavior, government regulations, and recycling initiatives.

What factors influence the volume of glass and metal waste?

Beverage consumption patterns, recycling rates, and availability of alternative packaging.

How can changes in packaging preferences impact glass and metal waste?

They affect the composition and volume of the waste, along with recycling infrastructure and conservation efforts.

What is e-waste, and why has it become a growing issue?

E-waste refers to discarded electronic devices and has grown due to rapid technological advancement. Computers, mobile phones

What factors influence the volume and composition of e-waste?

Introduction of new devices, upgrades, and the speed at which older electronics become obsolete.

What drives better handling and disposal of e-waste?

Increasing awareness of e-waste management and implementation of regulations.

What was a traditional waste disposal method, and why is it unsustainable?

Landfills, due to limited land availability and environmental risks. Advantages: centralised waste managements, wide accommodation of waste types and low operational costs. Disadvantages: methane generation, soil contamination and long-term monitoring requirements

What does incineration involve, and what is its benefit and disadvantage?

Controlled burning of waste to reduce volume, with potential for energy generation. Disadvantages: Air pollutants, high operating costs, and the release of hazardous substances.

What is the purpose of recycling?

Converting waste into reusable materials to conserve resources and reduce energy use. Advantages: Reduces landfill waste, saves energy, prevents pollution, and creates job opportunities. Disadvantages: Requires significant resources, limited facility availability, and contamination issues.

What does reusing involve?

Using products multiple times instead of discarding them to reduce waste.

What are the advantages of reusing materials?

Reduces the need for new products, saves energy, minimizes waste generation, can save money, and promotes a circular economy.

What are the disadvantages of reusing materials?

Limited availability of reusable items, requires proper cleaning, may not suit all products, limited market for second-hand items, and requires a change in consumer behavior.

What is composting?

The decomposition of organic waste into nutrient-rich soil through proper balance of organic materials, moisture, and aeration.

What are the advantages of composting?

Diverts organic waste from landfills, produces nutrient-rich compost, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, retains soil moisture, and promotes biodiversity.

What are the disadvantages of composting?

Requires space and management, takes time for decomposition, some materials are unsuitable (e.g., meat, dairy), and can cause odor or pest issues.

Why is waste transported to emerging economies for disposal?

To reduce the use of landfills in developed countries and utilize cheaper processing methods in low-income countries.

What are key regulations in the EU and UK regarding waste?

The EU aims for less than 10% of waste to go to landfills by 2035. The UK plans to eliminate biodegradable waste in landfills by 2028 and achieve zero recyclable waste by 2042.

How have Southeast Asian countries responded to waste imports?

Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand restricted waste imports in 2019. Malaysia returned over 340 waste containers between 2019 and 2021.