Copenhagen Solutions Will Wither without Water

Posted: Thursday, December 3, 2009 Author: Amber Pembleton

As the long-awaited Copenhagen conference (COP 15) draws near, political and scientific analysts alike are predicting what will transpire from the meetings. Unfortunately, it seems that one of the most important issues has been removed from the conference agenda. Water has been inexplicably pushed to the back burner as leaders instead focus primarily on cutting carbon emissions. According to one analyst, “for every thousand carbon-mitigation obsessed delegates” at Copenhagen, there will be fewer than a dozen water adaptation specialists. However, climate change cannot be managed without examining this critical lynchpin to the global society. Water vapor is considered by many to be the most important greenhouse gas affecting climate change. Moreover, climate change is drastically reducing the amount of freshwater readily available.

Water is vital for industry and humans alike, and climate change is decreasing the amount of freshwater readily available. Climate change is already to blame for many droughts and catastrophic floods throughout the globe. Furthermore, climate induced water scarcity has the ability to affect energy resources, agricultural needs, violent conflict, and human development. Water powers turbines, cools nuclear reactors, helps produce biofuels, and pumps oil. There is a unique nexus between energy and water, and as the global arena demands an increase in the use of alternative fuels to reduce emissions, increasing amounts of water will be needed to create that energy.

It is unclear why language concerning water has been removed from the agenda, especially since the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a 214 page document on the topic in 2008. Pasquale Steduto is Chair of UN-Water and Service Chief of the Food and Agriculture Organization. He stated the importance of water in climate change when he eloquently said, “there is no food security without water. There is most likely also no energy security without water. Water is the primary medium through which climate change influences the Earth’s ecosystems...” We cannot stop climate change, and how we adapt to the developments that climate change ensues will be critical to security throughout the world. The most critical developments will ultimately change the quantity and quality of water resources. Without focusing on how to adapt to these changes, COP 15 ultimately leaves out a crucial piece of the puzzle. Leaders should recognize this important piece of the puzzle and reintroduce it to the climate talks in coming weeks.