Current and Projected Sustainability of the Water-energy-food Nexus in Caribbean Small Island Developing States

Current and Projected Sustainability of the Water-energy-food Nexus in Caribbean Small Island Developing States
Author: Zachary Scott Winters
Publisher:
Total Pages: 62
Release: 2020
Genre: Environmental sciences
ISBN:

Within Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC), small island developing states (SIDS) of the latter are wholly reliant on their natural environments for their tourism-dependent economies yet are experiencing declining environmental health. These effects are exacerbated by Caribbean susceptibility to climate change and growing populations. With limited size, elevation, GDP, and water resources compared to Latin America, the subregion requires management and solutions tailored to the needs of each country. This study examined current and future sustainability of the Caribbean SIDS by assessing the nexus of water-energy-food (WEF) resources at the national level. In addition, the potential for nature-based solutions (NBS) was examined as a means of balancing sectors of WEF. To understand current sustainability, parameters related to water, energy, and food were compiled for 10 of the 16 SIDS of the Caribbean basin. The parameters for the water sector were compared to Falkenmark indicators, whereas energy and food sectors were compared with the LAC average for that parameter. Countries that scored below Falkenmark indicators or LAC averages across the parameters for each sector were deemed as currently unsustainable. Final classifications were tabulated for each of the SIDS to determine sectors of the WEF Nexus where they were currently failing. A geospatial analysis utilizing GIS was then conducted to determine if each SIDS retained available land for the potential of nature-based solutions for WEF Nexus failures. Data for GIS analysis included population density, slope, underlying geology, and land use/land cover. Two separate analyses were conducted, one utilizing sedimentary geology and the other employing non-sedimentary geology for countries of volcanic origin. To determine if there is sufficient available land for NBS implementation, a threshold was calculated for each country incorporating per capita requirements to treat total wastewater produced by each nation. Countries with available land greater than that of their calculated threshold were considered as able to reach sustainability for the WEF Nexus by installing NBS. Population growth and climate change effects (sea level rise and precipitation loss) were modeled for 2050 to estimate future conditions. Sea level rise (SLR) data were used as physical limitations to the installation of NBS; areas with elevations below predicted SLR were removed from available sites for NBS. Population growth and precipitation loss were used for calculating available water per capita in the year 2050 and were compared with 2020 levels. A majority of the countries examined were failing in two or more sectors of the WEF Nexus under current conditions and were thus classified as unsustainable. All countries were failing in at least one sector of the WEF Nexus, denoting subregional unsustainability in the food sector. From GIS analyses, each country was estimated to have sufficient land for potential NBS. The land area available for each country was far greater than the constructed wetland threshold for treating all wastewater for the current population. Under future conditions, this determination was not refuted, as estimated SLR did not impact available land enough to fall below constructed wetland area thresholds. Available water levels, however, were projected to be stressed by increased population and precipitation loss, resulting in three countries scoring a “fail” in the water sector where they had previously scored a “pass.” As water is a strong component of the WEF Nexus, this is highlighted as an area of focus for NBS. The current sustainability of the WEF Nexus in the Caribbean SIDS is overall failing, with future conditions intensifying these failures. However, every country has potential to implement NBS to balance the Nexus for both current and future scenarios. This analysis also works to classify the Caribbean SIDS as their own region outside of their LAC designation, as the SIDS are facing barriers that other LAC states are not generally experiencing. It is important that the Caribbean look to sustainable and effective solutions such as NBS to prevent water shortages, food inaccessibility, and energy starvation.

The Water, Food, Energy and Climate Nexus

The Water, Food, Energy and Climate Nexus
Author: Felix Dodds
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2016-03-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 131727783X

Global trends of population growth, rising living standards and the rapidly increasing urbanized world are increasing the demand on water, food and energy. Added to this is the growing threat of climate change which will have huge impacts on water and food availability. It is increasingly clear that there is no place in an interlinked world for isolated solutions aimed at just one sector. In recent years the "nexus" has emerged as a powerful concept to capture these inter-linkages of resources and is now a key feature of policy-making. This book is one of the first to provide a broad overview of both the science behind the nexus and the implications for policies and sustainable development. It brings together contributions by leading intergovernmental and governmental officials, industry, scientists and other stakeholder thinkers who are working to develop the approaches to the Nexus of water-food-energy and climate. It represents a major synthesis and state-of-the-art assessment of the Nexus by major players, in light of the adoption by the United Nations of the new Sustainable Development Goals and Targets in 2015. With a foreword by HRH the Prince of Wales

Research guide for water-energy-food nexus analysis

Research guide for water-energy-food nexus analysis
Author: Ringler, Claudia
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 13
Release: 2018-12-03
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The project titled “The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Global, Basin and Local Case Studies of Resource Use Efficiency under Growing Natural Resource Scarcity“ (2015-2018), which was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, and was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems. The project set out to develop research methodologies and insights globally as well as for the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Organization (ENTRO) of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to support efforts for enhanced water, energy and food security and environmental sustainability. The toolkit describes both qualitative and quantitative methods that have been used in the research project. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list of information and tools related to the analysis of the water, energy and food (WEF) nexus. The overall focus of the tools has been on economic analysis of the linkages across water, energy and food--to complement other studies and method developments that focus on biophysical linkages across the WEF nexus. The toolkit is aimed, primarily, at researchers interested in the analysis of the water, energy and food nexus. However, the studies summarized here also provide insights for practitioners implementing Nexus projects.

Renewable Energy in the Food, Energy, Water Nexus of the Bahamas

Renewable Energy in the Food, Energy, Water Nexus of the Bahamas
Author: Ross John Beatty
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

As the global population increases, so does global demand for energy, water and food expand. Meeting this continual spike of demand presents a tremendous challenge to Small Island States, given competing needs for limited resources amid heightened climate change. In order to overcome the increasing constraints that Small Island States encounter, serious consideration must be given with respect to how Small Island States produce and consume energy, produce water and provide food to their citizens. This critical tri-partied interaction is known as the Nexus. The interlinkage between the water, energy and food supply systems is a major consideration in countries' sustainable development strategies. Rapid economic growth, expanding populations and increasing prosperity are driving up demand for energy, water and food, especially in the Small Island States in the developing countries. Advancements in renewable energy technologies provide access to cost-effective, secure and environmentally sustainable supplies of energy. Their rapid technology advancements can have substantial spill-over effects in the water and food sectors. Yet detailed knowledge on the role renewables can play in the management of the Nexus remains limited and widely dispersed, let alone aggressively practiced or not practiced in small island countries such as the Bahamas. Renewable energy technologies could address some of the trade-offs between water, energy and food, bringing substantial benefits in all three sectors. The objective of the Thesis is to explore whether Small Island States such as the Bahamas are taking full advantage of the current technology available to manage their Nexus. The Thesis primarily uses government policies and press reporting on Bahamian renewable energy projects, and how these programs influence the water, energy and food requirements for the Bahamas. The term "energy-water-food Nexus" refers to the complex interdependencies between energy, water and agriculture that vary by geography. The Nexus refers to the web of interactions that link energy, water and food in a common system, as growing food requires water, processing water requires power, and hydro-electric power generation requires water. Depleting the natural resources of islands to the point of annihilation is verifiable in island countries such as the Easter Islands. Small islands are a microcosm of the Earth. To study small island Nexus topics is an opportunity to understand the challenges experienced all over the world.

Building Resilience to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean

Building Resilience to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean
Author: C. D. Metcalfe
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 106
Release: 2023-08-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3031373766

This book summarizes approaches that integrate the environmental, economic, and physical domains with the values, and needs of the population are necessary to develop sustainable strategies that will enhance the resilience of small islands, within the context of inter-island differences in geology, ecology, societal attitudes, governance, and human and economic resources. The impacts of coastal damage and flooding are predicted to worsen during this century due to rising sea levels and increases in the frequency and intensity of storms. The usual approach to coastal protection in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean is to view both the hazards and the solutions from the “Ocean Side” perspective and to react with “hard” engineering solutions. These structural engineering approaches prevent damage and disruptions to services associated with predictable events but leave communities vulnerable to future events that do not follow historical trends. Furthermore, engineered structures do not adequately address the systemic nature of climate change nor account for compounding threats (e.g., coincidence of hurricane season and global pandemics). To move from this traditional strategy for managing risks from coastal hazards, we need to consider a portfolio of solutions that enhance island protection and community resilience. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are gaining attention as practical and cost-effective approaches for mitigating climate-based stressors. However, deployment of NBS strategies requires spatial coordination within the context of “ridge to reef” or integrated water resource management (IWRM) approaches that include the creation of conditions for social acceptance, equity, effective governance, and financial incentives.

Implementing the Water-Energy-Food- Ecosystems Nexus and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Implementing the Water-Energy-Food- Ecosystems Nexus and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Author: Cesar Carmona-Moreno
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2021-09-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781789062588

The book’s primary intention is to serve as a roadmap for professionals working in developing countries interested in the Nexus Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) approach. The book shows a multi-disciplinary approach, showcasing the importance of the proper use of Nexus WEFE when implementing certain development programs in regions around the globe. It can be presented as a manual for an individual that either wishes to implement intervention projects following the NEXUS approach or students interested in cooperation and development. The book begins with a general explanation of the theoretical concepts and implementation processes of Nexus WEFE and continues getting into case studies, explaining the importance of proper implementation and potential drawbacks and solutions to them. This book has a particular focus on the European Union cooperation policies when implementing such an approach in developing countries.

Food Security in the Caribbean

Food Security in the Caribbean
Author: Donovan Stanberry
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2024-10-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9783031660542

Food security is a pressing concern in the Caribbean. Caribbean countries produce and export crops including sugar, bananas, and coffee, but this archipelago of states relies heavily on imported food when it comes to nourishing the Caribbean population. As much as 80% of the food consumed is imported. This is because the region does not have a robust domestic food crop or livestock sector. Much of the imported food is processed: high in sugar, fat, and salt. As a result, the region now has one of the highest rates of obesity in the Americas. And there are, as a consequence, heightened incidences of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. This negatively impacts the resources and budgets of health facilities in the Caribbean, which in turn hurts the developmental prospects of these Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Food Security in the Caribbean breaks down the concept of food security in all of its dimensions and critically analyzes the state of food security within four specific pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability. Offering insights into key trends in food production, consumption, and access, the book combines data from the CARICOM Secretariat, Ministries of Agriculture, and other relevant institutions. Chapters highlight the historical and structural conditioning of the Caribbean agriculture sector as an exporter of select tropical commodities and overreliance on imports for domestic food consumption. Chapters critically examine the fitness of purpose of regional and national institutional frameworks, investment in infrastructure, land reform, and the development of appropriate agricultural research, technology, and extension systems. There is an examination of the role of neoliberal policies and the directives of international funding institutions. The authors also address important and emerging challenges posed by COVID-19 and supply chain issues resulting from international conflicts, such as the one in Ukraine. This is an invaluable resource for economic researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and students interested in addressing the complex challenges of food security in the Caribbean region and beyond.

Sustainable management of freshwater resources for food and nutrition security in Small Island Developing States

Sustainable management of freshwater resources for food and nutrition security in Small Island Developing States
Author: Sonneveld, B., Alfarra, A., Merbis, M., Atzori, D.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2021-11-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9251351228

This study investigates how freshwater management can contribute to food and nutrition security (FNS) in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It contributes to FAO’s Global Action Programme, which prioritises an integrated approach to freshwater management on FNS in SIDS.

Gender, agrifood value chains and climate-resilient agriculture in Small Island Developing States

Gender, agrifood value chains and climate-resilient agriculture in Small Island Developing States
Author: Percy, R., Christensen, I., Safa Barraza, A., Berthelin, L.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2022-05-19
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9251361673

In the current context of climate change, focusing on gender equality in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can drive improvements in resilience, food security and nutrition. This document seeks to enrich the knowledge and evidence base on gender, food systems and resilience in the SIDS of the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (AIS) region, providing evidence from Barbados, Cabo Verde, Comoros (the), Palau, Saint Lucia, Samoa and Sao Tome and Principe. It focuses specifically on gender-related roles, gender gaps and traditional knowledge in agriculture and natural resource management to better support women’s participation in value chains and the benefits they receive from value chain development. It calls for radical transformations to build resilient livelihoods, overcome gender inequalities and help rural women and men reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters. Furthermore, the transformations called for, which focus on gender equity, will increase the resilience of rural livelihoods to unforeseen events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in view of the critical role women play in ensuring food security and nutrition.