Transcript Introducing a New Product

Summary
B4. Water and Food Security
Session
Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus, including capacity building,
is the interconnection where many global challenges are
manifested through and thus essential for addressing these
challenges in an interlinked way. WEF is key for attaining
sustainable development and green economy.
Earth Observation Systems could provide the necessary and
often lacking information for achieving the purposes of WEF
Nexus
Water Security
Presentation by Gordon Young on water security elements within
the broader framework of global security
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Drivers affecting global water security
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Population growth, rising incomes, climate change,
competing uses, etc
Elements of water security
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Diverse uses of water
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Water threats: floods, droughts
Food Security
Presentation by Anik Bhaduri on food security challenges:
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Water security is essential for food security, water gap may
lead to food gap
Challenges:
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Increased inequality in access to water perpetuating poverty
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Climate change and increasing risks and vulnerabilities
Solutions:
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Nexus approach and better water governance
Virtual water imports are positively associated with water
scarcity
Earth Observations
Presentation by Rick Lawford
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Solutions for water security challenges:
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Single forum for WEF + Environment
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Stakeholder participation and interactions
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Maximize use of Earth Observations
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Case study of Lake Winnipeg Basin
Capacity Building
Presentation by Jens Liebe on role of capacity building with
WEF Nexus:
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identify interconnections between sectors and actors
promote learning and knowledge sharing across sectors and
regions
narrow the gap between the availability of solutions and skills
and means to use them (e.g. technology)
support decision-makers to develop appropriate policies,
What role for Earth Observations?
Effective tools are needed to support decision-makers in a more timely and coordinated
manner. Earth observation is the basis to provide such information
From global satellite data and in-situ time series at specific locations, over tools for accessing
and using the data, to systems that integrate these data with other information– especially
those of food price alert systems
Significant investment is needed as sufficient infrastructure for data collection and distribution
does often not exist
For existing data, the challenge lies ahead to integrate earth observation and monitoring
systems for agricultural commodities, and identify new metrics and valid indicators that can
be applied across sectors to assess interlinkages