Namibia's Water-Energy-Food Nexus: National Development in uncertain times
Our survival on planet Earth depends most fundamentally on the availability of water, energy, and food. If these necessities are met, we have the luxury of focusing on the many other aspects of importance to us. However, if these prerequisites are constrained or their supply is threatened, the building blocks of the very foundation of modern civilisation are at risk. Numerous scenarios could lead to interruptions of our water, energy, and food supplies. The spectres of potential risk and constant change include severe drought, national and international conflicts, a breakdown of essential supply routes, interruptions due to civil unrest, and health pandemics. In a highly interconnected world, disruptions of critical supply chains in one country may cause shortages on the other side of the globe (UNESCO, 2021). The supplies of water, energy, and food are highly interrelated, as illustrated in Figure 1. Energy is essential for extracting, treating, distributing, and supplying water, processing wastewater, and food production. Water is essential to produce food, and, to some extent, energy. Only if water and energy are available, can food be grown. Producing adequate and affordable food, therefore, depends on the availability, adequacy and affordability of both water and energy.
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Namibias Water_Energy_Food Nexus_National Development in Uncertain Times.pdf | 5.73 MB |