Can the implementation of the Water-Food-Energy ......Nexus assessment in the Sava River Basin Nexus management in the Syr Darya Basin Water audit in Malta • Towards broader water

Incorporating water into broader

development frameworks

through Nexus approaches

Can the implementation of the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystem Nexus

support economic growth in the Mediterranean region?

Olcay Ünver

Deputy-Director of the Land and Water Division of FAO

Incorporating water into broader development

frameworks through Nexus approaches

• State of Water Resources

• Why a Nexus approach?

Nexus assessment in the Sava River Basin

Nexus management in the Syr Darya Basin

Water audit in Malta

• Towards broader water development

Water resources

in the Mediterranean countries

Variability of rain-fed production

Water Stress

in the Mediterranean Basin

Per capita freshwater

availability

• Has decreased by 2/3

over last 40 years

• Is expected to decrease

up to 50% further by

2050

Major drivers

• Population growth (+ consumption

patterns)

• Climate change

Regional Water Scarcity Initiative in the

Near East and North Africa

Irrigated market-oriented

agriculture • Responding to fast-growing

demand of higher value

produces from urban and

export markets

• Facing progressive

reduction of water

allocation.

Rain-fed farming

• Largely growing cereals and

(2/3 of agricultural production)

• Facing particular challenges of

low productivity and

unpredictable rainfall.

Regional Water Scarcity Initiative in the

Near East and North Africa

Regional Water Scarcity Initiative in the

Near East and North Africa

1. Strategic planning & policies

2. Strengthening/reforming governance at all levels

3. Improving water management efficiency and

productivity in major agricultural systems and in the

food chain

4. Managing the water supply through reuse and

recycling of unconventional waters

5. Climate change adaptation

6. Building sustainability, with focus on groundwater,

pollution and soil salinity

7. Benchmarking, monitoring and reporting on water

use efficiency and productivity.

Why a Nexus approach?

It’s about balancing different resource user goals

and interests – while maintaining the integrity of

ecosystems.

Population growth and mobility

Diversifying and changing diets

Climate Change

International and regional trade, markets and prices

Industrial development

Technology and

innovation

Governance

Drivers

Cultural and societal beliefs and behaviours

Drivers

Urbanisation

Sectoral policies , vested interests

Agricultural Transformation

Water

Energy Land

Labour Capital

Scenario Development

Evidence

Response Options

Stakeholder Dialogue

Managing the Nexus

Resource base

Different, often competing social, economic and environmental goals and interests related to:

Water

Goals and interests

Energy Food

FAO Approach to Water-Energy-Food Nexus

• Across sectors

• Transparent and effective allocation mechanisms

• Management of trade-offs

• Enhancement of synergies

• Within sectors

• Resources use efficiency increased

productivity of resources

• Reduction of wastes and losses

Adopting a pragmatic approach

• What are the implications of policies and

planning across sectors?

• What sorts of investments are needed to

support the synergetic use of resources

across sectors?

• How can we effectively manage demand,

so that fewer resources are wasted?

What sort of Nexus questions?

The Sava River Basin

Water-Agriculture-Energy

Expansion of irrigated agriculture

• To mitigate impacts of climate

change

• Requires energy?

• Water availability for

hydropower?

Compatibility of plans for

increased irrigation for

agriculture with the energy

production capacity of planned

and existing hydropower plants

under climate change?

The Syr Darya Basin - Context

The Syr Darya Basin - Context S

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: FA

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The Syr Darya Basin – Nexus Solutions

Water audit in Cyprus

Water audit in Cyprus

Cross-Sectoral Work in Practice

Awareness raising is spreading

Knowledge base expanding

Analytic tools being developed

Increasing evidence of engagement across

sectors, particularly private sector

? Policy formulation – still predominantly sector

based

? Planning systems mainly fragmented

Towards broader water development

Population growth and mobility

Diversifying and changing diets

Climate Change

International and regional trade, markets and prices

Industrial development

Technology and

innovation

Governance

Drivers

Cultural and societal beliefs and behaviours

Drivers

Urbanisation

Sectoral policies , vested interests

Agricultural Transformation

Water

Energy Land

Labour Capital

Scenario Development

Evidence

Response Options

Stakeholder Dialogue

Managing the Nexus

Resource base

Different, often competing social, economic and environmental goals and interests related to:

Water

Goals and interests

Energy Food

Thank you!