Emerging Issues Facing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in the Middle East and Asia

About the ProjectThe Energy and Water workshop series brings together experts from the private and public sectors, regulatory bodies, international institutions, academia, and think-tanks to explore the interlinkages in the water-energy-food nexus. Specific attention is placed on how energy is used to meet water demand in both water scarce and water abundant countries. Other issues of importance include how water and energy are mobilized for food production and better policies for transboundrial governance of water and energy resources.Key PointsAs economies in the Middle East and Asia grow and develop, there will be further strain on water, energy and food resources – each inextricably linked to the others. Much of the Middle East is energy abundant, but population growth and economic development have led to severe water and food scarcity. In Asia, despite a comparative abundance of water, energy and food, the problem is increasingly one of economic scarcity – the inability to finance the mobilization of these vital resources.Water for agriculture: There is not enough robust data on the inter dependencies of water, energy and food. There is an opportunity to improve data collection so that proper economic, environmental and social impact assessments can be performed before policy decisions for resource management are made.Transboundary governance: Water basins do not respect national boundaries, making their management more difficult. When conflicts occur, bottom up solutions such as cooperation for sub-basin management can provide a platform for international water management. Examples of successful transboundary governance can be found in the Mekong River delta and Nile River basin.Infrastructure financing: In Asia, securing the least cost water and energy utility provision option is important, given financial constraints. The ‘pro-poor public-private partnerships’ (5P) experience is one approach that attempts to harmonize private sector efficiency with public sector development goals.Coordination: Energy and water infrastructure projects are not always considered as a package, for example cooling water for power plants. An integrated planning process can improve coordination among different institutions and result in more resilient and sustainable infrastructure investments.

关于本项目能源与水研讨会系列汇聚了来自私营和公共部门、监管机构、国际机构、学术界和智库的专家，共同探讨水-能源-食物联接体的相互联系。特别关注能源在满足水资源需求方面的应用，无论是水资源稀缺还是丰富的国家。其他重要议题包括水与能源在粮食生产中的动员以及跨区域水资源和能源资源治理的更好政策。关键点随着中东和亚洲经济的增长与发展，对水资源、能源和粮食资源的需求将进一步增加——三者之间紧密相连。中东大部分地区能源丰富，但人口增长和经济发展导致了严重的水资源和粮食短缺。在亚洲，尽管水资源、能源和粮食相对丰富，但问题日益转变为经济短缺——无法为这些关键资源的动员提供资金。农业用水：关于水、能源和粮食相互依存性的可靠数据不足。有改善数据收集的机会，以便在制定资源管理政策决策之前进行适当的经济、环境和社会影响评估。跨区域治理：水系不受国家边界限制，使得其管理更加困难。当冲突发生时，如次流域管理合作等自下而上的解决方案可以为国际水管理提供一个平台。在湄公河三角洲和尼罗河流域可以发现成功的跨区域治理案例。基础设施融资：鉴于财务限制，在亚洲确保最低成本的水和能源公用事业供应选项至关重要。‘面向穷人的公私合作伙伴关系’（5P）经验是一种尝试，旨在协调私营部门的效率和公共部门的发展目标。协调：能源和水基础设施项目并不总是作为一个整体考虑，例如电厂的冷却水。一个综合的规划过程可以改善不同机构之间的协调，并导致更具韧性和可持续性的基础设施投资。