Geo Case Studies (3)

UN SDGs (2, 6, 12)/World Economic Forum/ USA withdrawal from Paris CC Agreement / Russia gas and oil in Arctic / UK low carbon economy and biofuel in Kenya/Mekong

UN SDG 2

Zero hunger (improved food security)

UN SDG 2 Targets (2020)

Zero Hunger 2020:

→ genetic diversity maintained in all areas of agricultural production

→ increased investment in agricultural productivity capacity (LICs)

→ Addressed unfair trading practices

UN SDG 2 Targets (2030)

Zero Hunger 2030:

→ No hunger; global food security

→ No malnutrition

→ Doubled agricultural productivity + incomes for small scale farmers

→ Food production is sustainable

→ Resilient agricultural practices in place

UN SDG 2 Current state

Extreme hunger:

→ Globally 2/9 people undernourished

→ Positive feedback cycle:

1) Extreme hunger and malnutrition

2) People increasingly prone to disease

3) People are too weak to work/farm

4) Inability to grow sufficient food/earn money to buy it

UN SDG 2 historical progress

Overall:

→ Action began in 2000

→ Hunger decreased over the years

→ investment in agricultural production needed in poorest areas of Asia and Africa

Stats:

Pos:

→ 2014-2016 - samples of seeds/genetic plant preserved in gene banks +2% → improves maintenance of genetic diversity, increases resilience of agricultural practices

→ 2016 - Global proportion of undernourished dropped to 11%, -4% since 2000

Neg:

→ Since late 1990s - Investment in agriculture (share of governmental expenditure -0.17%

→ 2016 - 13 sub-Saharan African countries suffered high domestic food prices ← declines in agricultural output, currency depreciation, rising fuel prices

UN SDG 6

Clean water and sanitation

UN SDG 6 Targets

Ultimate goal

→ Equal access to safe, affordable, and clean drinking water

How:

Global:

→ Expand international cooperation and support for LICs → promote water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling/reuse technologies

→ Improve water quality ← reducing pollution, safe water reuse and recycling

Global/national:

→ Introduction of integrated water management (e.g. trans-boundary cooperation)

Local:

→ Support local community involvement in water and sanitation management

UN SDG 6 Current state

Inadequate water access impacts food security, education, health, and life expectancy.

→ ¼ people globally lack access for economic reasons and inadequate water transport infrastructure

→ >80% of global water used discharged into rivers and seas without treatment

→ ~70% of freshwater used for irrigation

→ Hydropower produces 16% of global electricity

UN SDG 6 historical progress

Pos:

→ 2015 - >90% of global population accesses an improved water supply

→ 2017 - 60/74 countries surveyed by UN had clearly defined strategies for water and sanitation management

Neg:

→ Open defecation (discharging faeces outdoors) common in central and south-east Asia/sub-Saharan Africa → requires investment in education/infrastructure

→ >2 billion people live with extreme water stress

UN SDG 12

Sustainable resource consumption and production

UN SDG 12 Targets

Sustainable and efficient resource management:

→ Halve food waste at all stages of supply and consumption chain

→ Encourage sustainable practices in all areas from transnational companies to individuals

→ support technological capacity of LICs for sustainable consumption

UN SDG 12 historical progress

Overall:

→ increase in natural resource rent until 2007, then overall decrease → costs proportionally less to extract resources → drains resource origin

Pos:

→ International agreements cover pollution issues:

→ Basel convention: hazardous waste disposal

→ Stockholm convention: organic pollutants

→ Montreal protocol: ozone depleting substances

Neg:

→ 2010 - 1.3kg/unit of GDP domestic material consumption - +1.1kg in 10 years → economic growth still dependent on natural resource consumption rather than circular economy

World Economic Forum

Annual international conference where world leaders discuss pressing social, economic, and political issues.

Regarding the water-food-energy nexus (global framework):

→ food production requires water and energy

→ water extraction and distribution requres energy

→ energy production requires water

Issues risking resource security:

→ Shortages → social and political instability

→ geopolitical conflict

→ environmental damage

Stakeholders:

→ Governments

→ citizens

→ transport networks

→ environmentalists (resources insecurities can lead to environmental degradation)

USA withdrawal from Paris CC Agreement

Cause

USA withdraws from Paris CC Agreement → energy sources/ costs no longer capped/ limited to renewables → raises energy inputs and production

Issues risking resource security

→ increase in energy inputs

→ food and water shortages elsewhere

→ higher economic costs on resources

→ environmental damage (climate change, soil contamination → agricultural land damage, habitat loss)

Stakeholders

→ US government

→ UN

→ Paris CC conference

→ environmentalists

→ economists

Russia gas/oil in Arctic

Climate change positively impacting on Russia’s Arctic region through warming temperatures

→ lengthening summer shipping lanes

→ thawing of hydrocarbons

→ easier navigating conditions

→ adaptation → improved economic potential ← increased oil and natural gas energy reserves

Issues risking security

→ geopolitical conflict over resources between Arctic countries (Russian militarization in the Arctic)

→ continued depletion of finite resources

→ lack of contribution to CC mitigation → affecting southern regions

Stakeholders

→ arctic countries (governments)

→ environmentalists

→ other countries suffering from CC

UK low carbon economy and biofuel

Global regulation: petrol and diesel in UK must be mixed with bioethanol/biodiesel to cut CO2 emissions

→ Mumias Sugar Company in Kenya planting sugar cane for biofuels and food over 20k hectares of Tana delta to supply the UK

→ However paradoxically threatens irreparable environmental damage (wetlands, biodiversity, habitat loss)

Issues risking resource security

→ expansion of sugar cane plantation → destroys local wetlands and species → loss of touristic opportunities

Stakeholders

→ UK, Kenya (governments/companies)

→ UN

→ Kenya local groups/communities

→ local biodiversity

→ emerging tourism industry

→ environmentalists