Water food and energy nexus

Subject Guide

The water–food–energy “nexus” and how its complex interactions affect:

national water security, including access to safe water
national food security, including food availability
national energy security, including energy pathways and geopolitical issues

The implications of global climate change for the water–food–energy nexus.
Detailed examples of two countries with contrasting levels of resource security.

What is the Water-Food-Energy Nexus?

Use your notes/record of the "hexagon" task, student textbook pp274-280 and the United Nations website here to answer the questions on P280 of the student textbook.

Carefully watch the two videos. Note the names of the speakers and the key points they make.

What are the implications of Climate Change on the Water-Food-Energy nexus?

Use your own copy of the diagram below to create a "mind map" on A3 paper which adds the potential impacts of climate change on the nexus. You should refer to the Core unit on Climate change as well as to the student textbook in order to do this. Think carefully about how you will show the following:

impacts on individual people and families
impacts on environmental systems and ecosystems
SEEP
PPPP

Additional material and case study - Sahel
Use Study Guide p95 onwards
1. Explain why the Sahel is vulnerable to future climate change and water supply - use a sketch map to help.
2. What is the FAO and why are they concerned?
3. List 5 items from Figure 320 on page 96. Choose items that we have not already discussed.
4. Why might Chinese power companies be worried?
5. Explain why Putin and Trump may be pleased with climate change. Also look at the article from the BBC – could this influence any parts of the nexus?

Case Studies: Detailed examples of two countries with contrasting levels of resource security.

For this task, we will compare Niger and Singapore and their contrasting levels of food, energy and water security.

Use the notes document below to investigate the FEW Nexus in Singapore and Niger. You should examine, compare and contrast the current situation in both country with future possibilities.