In "Common Wealth", Jeffery Sachs's book on sustainability, the concept of the concentration of CO2 in the air is very well explained. The base case (1960) of about 260 ppm and the current 380 ppm implies a business as usual rate that will get us to twice the 1960s concentration ( 560ppm) in 2100. But several other factors are accelerating the concentration and cut the time down by about 50 years. So in 2 generations, the concentration will double. At 2CO2, the planet is in a catastrophic failed state. Ouch!
Changing weather patterns, impact rain and river flow, while de-salination appears to be the easy way out, changing salt water into drinking water is expensive.. the vast amount of energy needed will keep this technology for the rich. Limiting global pervasive use to have any worldwide effect that is needed in the context of the climate change crisis. Additionally, cities inland will have to pump the water from the sea exacerbating the energy crisis ( CO2 emissions )
So the solutions need to be very energy efficient. Use less water and reuse water. Agriculture needs to get dramatically "water efficient" ( the #1 water user in the world - 65% on a global basis )
As Sachs puts it .. "more crop per drop"
Meanwhile, Water efficient companies are tracking their water footprint) It's becoming as important as "Carbon Footprint" and companies are measuring this. In a related twist, Pepsi, a large water consumer/seller , has an initiative to support the H2O Africa Initiative for sustainable water practices. Coke measures itself against sustainability goals, planning to clean and return all the waste water it generates to the environment, by 2010.
For every Liter of Coke sold, 2.47 Liters of water are used. This was about 3 Liters in 2003.
In conclusion, at the global level, GHC/Climate change is creating an expanding water crisis and at the consumer level, water footprint and carbon footprint are driving brand equity. Making efficient use of water a smart business proposition.
Changing weather patterns, impact rain and river flow, while de-salination appears to be the easy way out, changing salt water into drinking water is expensive.. the vast amount of energy needed will keep this technology for the rich. Limiting global pervasive use to have any worldwide effect that is needed in the context of the climate change crisis. Additionally, cities inland will have to pump the water from the sea exacerbating the energy crisis ( CO2 emissions )
So the solutions need to be very energy efficient. Use less water and reuse water. Agriculture needs to get dramatically "water efficient" ( the #1 water user in the world - 65% on a global basis )
As Sachs puts it .. "more crop per drop"
Meanwhile, Water efficient companies are tracking their water footprint) It's becoming as important as "Carbon Footprint" and companies are measuring this. In a related twist, Pepsi, a large water consumer/seller , has an initiative to support the H2O Africa Initiative for sustainable water practices. Coke measures itself against sustainability goals, planning to clean and return all the waste water it generates to the environment, by 2010.
For every Liter of Coke sold, 2.47 Liters of water are used. This was about 3 Liters in 2003.
In conclusion, at the global level, GHC/Climate change is creating an expanding water crisis and at the consumer level, water footprint and carbon footprint are driving brand equity. Making efficient use of water a smart business proposition.
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