The Urban Context of the Water‐E F d NEnergy‐Food Nexus

Nadim Farajalla, PhDDirector

Climate Change and the Environment ProgramIssam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs

American University of Beirut

Cities‐ Impacts and Vulnerability p y Consume 75% of the world natural resources

Consume 80 % of global energy supply 

Produce more than 70% of global greenhouse emissions

Cities are highly vulnerable to climate change 

Host high percentage of population‐5 billion people will live in cities in Host high percentage of population 5 billion people will live in cities in 2050 

Land use and urban planning regulations in the Arab MENA region largely ignore basic adaptation requirements to climate change. 

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Variation of Min. Temp.: Beirut 1875-2005

18 519

19.520

20.521

p

15 516

16.517

17.518

18.5

12.513

13.514

14.515

15.5

1010.5

1111.5

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1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010

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1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010

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GHG Emissions in Lebanon - 2012

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Source: Lebanon’s 3rd National Communication, MoE

Water Energy Food Nexus

Water • Water, energy Water , gyand food security for all

• Equitable and qsustainable growth

• Resilient and

EnergyFoodproductive environment

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WEF Nexus

Water:Rainwater

Reduces energy reliance - less pumping through network

Rainwater Harvesting

Energy:

Reduces GHG emissions

Energy:Renewables – wind and

solar

Food:Communal Gardens

and green roofs

Reduces energy reliance –reduced transportation

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pand refrigeration

Adaptation and Mitigation Synergies

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Integrated Frameworkg

Cities and climate change issues are not only addressed by UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) but also byby UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP), but also by other United Nation initiatives :

the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through Sustainable Development Goals  ( SDGs ) 

the International Strategy on Disaster Reduction ( UNISDR )  through Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction ;

H bit t P (UNHABITAT) th h M d lli Habitat Program ( UNHABITAT) through Medellin Collaboration on Urban Resilience and HABITAT III .

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THANK YOUTHANK YOU

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