Climate, Energy and Water: Managing Trade-offs, Seizing Opportunities

Description

With the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, our capacity to provide enough food, water and energy relies on our understanding and management of the complex interdependencies in the climate-energy-water nexus. This book presents a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the interdependencies between these sectors and the knock-on consequences of those interactions for other sectors, such as food production and biodiversity conservation. The interdisciplinary nature of the book across the three sectors of climate, energy and water means that it will be valuable for advanced students, researchers and policymakers across a broad range of fields, including environmental/energy/water/climate policy, environmental economics, climate science, hydrology, ecology and geography.

Jamie Pittock is a senior lecturer in the Fenner School of Environment and Society, the Australian National University (ANU), and the director of International Programs for the ANU UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance. He is also the program leader of the Australia-United States Climate, Energy and Water Nexus Project for the US Studies Center. Jamie worked for non-governmental environmental organizations in Australia and internationally from 1989 to 2007; previous positions include director of WWF's Global Freshwater Programme from 2001 to 2007. Jamie's research focuses on better governance of the interlinked issues of water management, energy and food supply, responses to climate change and conservation of biological diversity. His recent research includes assessments of the impacts of renewable energy and carbon sequestration policies on water resources and ecosystems globally, and also the water-use implications of emission reduction measures proposed in Australia. His work also considers the energy costs of water sector adaptation to climate change. He directs two large research programs on irrigation and water management in Africa and on hydropower, food and water in the Mekong region. Jamie is also chair of the Board of Water Stewardship Australia. Karen Hussey is an Associate Professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University (ANU) and an ANU Public Policy Fellow. She undertakes research and teaching related to environmental governance, water and energy policy, climate adaptation, resilience and disaster management, and the links between international trade and environmental regulation. Her most recent books include Environment and Sustainability: A Policy Handbook (with Stephen Dovers, 2013) and Water Resources Planning and Management (with Quentin Grafton, Cambridge University Press, 2011). Karen is program director of the Australia-United States Climate, Energy and Water Nexus Project and a board member for the ANU UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance. Stephen Dovers is the director of the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University (ANU), Honorary Professorial Fellow at Charles Darwin University, an ANU Public Policy Fellow, and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. His research and teaching cover the policy and institutional dimensions of sustainable development, emergency and disaster management, and climate change adaptation. He is co-author of Environment and Sustainability: A Policy Handbook (with Karen Hussey, 2013) and The Handbook of Disaster Policies and Institutions (with John Handmer, 2013).

'This interesting book focuses on the key issues of energy and water security and, by implication, food security, in the context of climate change. It is enormously diverse both in terms of authorship from many different disciplines and geographic locations. This is important as these problems are ubiquitous from a geographic perspective and will need addressing from a variety of disciples. I thoroughly recommend it.' Sir John Beddington, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford; former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government 'This valuable book provides a wealth of knowledge and information, based on the experience of a number of countries, to all those grappling with the vexed question of how best to ensure the integrated and sustainable management of our scarce natural resources in the face of climate change and a growing population.' Barbara Schreiner, Executive Director of the Pegasys Institute