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No matter your politics or social standing, few can disagree that the future of our economy is inextricably linked to energy. But what about the future of water?
Without water, it is nearly impossible to generate energy. Whether its nuclear, hydro, coal or oil – abundant supplies of water are an absolute necessity when it comes to energy generation. And in their latest report, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development has addressed this very issue.
Here are a few of the key points from the report, Water, Energy and Climate Change: A contribution from the business community:
- Both water and energy are essential to every aspect of life: social equity, ecosystem integrity and economic sustainability.
- In an increasing spiral, demand for more energy will drive demand for more water; demand for more water will drive demand for more energy.
- Industrial, agricultural and domestic water and energy uses can have adverse impacts on ecosystems, including loss of habitat, pollution and changes in biological processes (such as fish spawning). Such ecosystem impacts also affect the amount of water or energy supplies available. Water, energy and ecological footprints cannot be addressed in isolation.
- Maintaining environmental flows is critical to ensuring river systems can supply water to business and ecosystems.
- Resolving growing issues surrounding water and energy priorities will require better and integrated policy frameworks and political engagement to address them satisfactorily for all stakeholders within and across watersheds.
Most of what is in the report is not necessarily ground-breaking for those who have been warning about this very issue for decades. The fact is, renewable energy advocates have long preached the water consumption advantages to wind and solar power. As the report notes, wind energy and photovoltaic cells have negligible water use. But take a resource like oil, and you're looking at a major water consumer. It can take as much as 2 billion gallons of water per day to refine 800 million gallons of petroleum products.
You can read the entire report here.
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