Water Week focuses on energy challenges
Water is needed in almost all energy generation processes. At the
same time, the water sector needs energy to extract, treat and transport
water.
The inextricable connections between water and energy - and how best
to manage them for the benefit of the poor - was the focus of this
year's World Water Week.
 Cross-cutting solutions are critical to develop innovative technical
tools, approaches, and policy-oriented guidance to help countries
develop and manage their energy and water resources in a sustainable
way.
Water is needed in almost all energy generation processes from
hydropower production and energy extraction, to cooling in thermal power
plants. At the same time, the water sector needs energy to extract,
treat and transport water.
The inextricable connections between water and energy - and how best
to manage them for the benefit of the poor - was the focus of this
year's World Water Week, the annual focal point for the globe's water
issues.
"Today the process of urbanisation, decentralisation of the nation
state, addressing the challenge of fragility of nations, links into
challenges of energy for all or food security - all of these development
challenges will require us to understand how to manage water in global
and inter-sectoral contexts," said Senior Director, Water, World Bank
Group, Junaid Ahmad, who addressed World Water Week participants during
the opening plenary with Senior Director, Energy and Extractives, World
Bank Group, Anita George.
Over 748 million people lack access to potable water, 2.5 billion
lack access to sanitation, and over 1.2 billion people lack access to
electricity.
Geographically, most of those living in water poverty are the same
people who live in energy poverty. They are among the world's poorest
people and the most underserved in basic services.
"One statistic that challenges me every day in my job is the fact
that, with business as usual, the number of Africans without access to
electricity will grow," said Senior Director Anita George.
"With the scale of unmet need for electricity and the mounting water
scarcity facing countries, we need to focus on areas where water and
energy meet - ensuring sustainable hydropower, reducing harmful energy
subsidies and improving waste water treatment and management," she said.
Water constraints have already adversely impacted the energy sector
in many parts of the world. In the United States and Europe, power
plants have had to temporarily shut down or reduce electricity
generation due to low water flows or high water temperatures.
Despite these concerns, present energy planning and production is
often made without taking into account existing and future water
constraints.
Earlier this year, the water and energy units of the World Bank
jointly launched the Thirsty Energy Initiative to promote more
sustainable management of water and energy resources in our work with
governments throughout the world. With the energy sector as an entry
point, Thirsty Energy quantifies tradeoffs and identifies synergies
between water and energy resource management. These types of
cross-cutting solutions that are critical for developing innovative
technical tools and approaches to help countries develop and manage
their energy and water resources in a sustainable manner.
- World Bank |
