Advancing Water Footprint Assessment Research: Challenges in Monitoring Progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6
TL;DR: In this paper, a collection of recent papers in the field of Water Footprint Assessment (WFA), an emerging area of research focused on the analysis of freshwater use, scarcity, and pollution in relation to consumption, production, and trade is presented.
Abstract: This special issue is a collection of recent papers in the field of Water Footprint Assessment (WFA), an emerging area of research focused on the analysis of freshwater use, scarcity, and pollution in relation to consumption, production, and trade. As increasing freshwater scarcity forms a major risk to the global economy, sustainable management of water resources is a prerequisite to development. We introduce the papers in this special issue by relating them to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 of the United Nations, the goal on water. We will particularly articulate how each paper drives the understanding needed to achieve target 6.3 on water quality and pollution and target 6.4 on water-use efficiency and water scarcity. Regarding SDG 6, we conclude that it lacks any target on using green water more efficiently, and while addressing efficiency and sustainability of water use, it lacks a target on equitable sharing of water. The latter issue is receiving limited attention in research as well. By primarily focusing on water-use efficiency in farming and industries at the local level, to a lesser extent to using water sustainably at the level of total water systems (like drainage basins, aquifers), and largely ignoring issues around equitable water use, understanding of our water problems and proposed solutions will likely remain unbalanced.
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TL;DR: It is argued that the footprint family is a flexible framework where particular members can be included or excluded according to the context or area of concern, and delivers on measuring progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
226 citations
European Commission1, National University of Singapore2, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis3, University of Nebraska–Lincoln4, Flinders University5, International Water Management Institute6, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education7, Aalto University8, Stockholm Resilience Centre9, South University of Science and Technology of China10
TL;DR: It is recommended that WS is measured based on net abstraction as well, in addition to currently only measuring WS based on gross abstraction, because it does incorporate EFR and Temporal and spatial disaggregation is indeed defined as a goal in more advanced monitoring levels.
209 citations
TL;DR: The authors of this Virtual Special Issue as mentioned in this paper sought to introduce first-hand knowledge and discussions identifying and highlighting the ways cleaner production can contribute to reach the United Nations sustainable development targets, and provided an overview of the recent trends that cleaner production practitioners/researchers are following in the chase of the sustainable development goals.
102 citations
TL;DR: The use of global, multiregional input-output (MRIO) analysis for consumption-based (footprint) accounting has expanded significantly over the last decade.
Abstract: The use of global, multiregional input‐output (MRIO) analysis for consumption‐based (footprint) accounting has expanded significantly over the last decade. Most of the global studies on environmental and social impacts associated with consumption or embodied in international trade would have been impossible without the rapid development of extended MRIO databases. We present an overview of the developments in the field of MRIO analysis, in particular as applied to consumption‐based environmental and social footprints. We first provide a discussion of research published on various global MRIO databases and the differences between them, before focusing on the virtual laboratory computing infrastructure for potentially making MRIO databases more accessible for collaborative research, and also for supporting greater sectoral and regional detail. We discuss work that includes a broader range of extensions, in particular the inclusion of social indicators in consumption‐based accounting. We conclude by discussing the need for the development of detailed nested MRIO tables for investigating linkages between regions of different countries, and the applications of the rapidly growing field of global MRIO analysis for assessing a country's performance toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
71 citations
Cites background from "Advancing Water Footprint Assessmen..."
...A number of special issues have been published focusing on water-related research, such as on “Input-output and Water” (Duarte and Yang 2011), “Water Footprints and Sustainable Water Allocation” (Hoekstra et al. 2015), and “Water Footprint Assessment” (Hoekstra et al. 2017)....
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...Recent focus of research into water footprinting is to measure progress toward SDG 6 (Hoekstra et al. 2017)....
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...2015), and “Water Footprint Assessment” (Hoekstra et al. 2017)....
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TL;DR: It is recommended that Africa aggressively mobilise resources if it is to attain universal WASH services by 2030, along with other SDG 6-related targets.
64 citations
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Australian National University1, Stockholm Resilience Centre2, University of Copenhagen3, McGill University4, Stellenbosch University5, University of Wisconsin-Madison6, Wageningen University and Research Centre7, Stockholm University8, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences9, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research10, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation11, International Livestock Research Institute12, University College London13, Stockholm Environment Institute14, The Energy and Resources Institute15, University of California, San Diego16, Royal Institute of Technology17
TL;DR: An updated and extended analysis of the planetary boundary (PB) framework and identifies levels of anthropogenic perturbations below which the risk of destabilization of the Earth system (ES) is likely to remain low—a “safe operating space” for global societal development.
Abstract: The planetary boundaries framework defines a safe operating space for humanity based on the intrinsic biophysical processes that regulate the stability of the Earth system. Here, we revise and update the planetary boundary framework, with a focus on the underpinning biophysical science, based on targeted input from expert research communities and on more general scientific advances over the past 5 years. Several of the boundaries now have a two-tier approach, reflecting the importance of cross-scale interactions and the regional-level heterogeneity of the processes that underpin the boundaries. Two core boundaries—climate change and biosphere integrity—have been identified, each of which has the potential on its own to drive the Earth system into a new state should they be substantially and persistently transgressed.
7,169 citations
"Advancing Water Footprint Assessmen..." refers background in this paper
...Research on sustainable water use is quickly emerging after the launch of new concepts like the maximum sustainable WF and WF caps per water resources system [29] and planetary boundaries for water [33]....
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TL;DR: The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumptionand pollution elsewhere.
Abstract: This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (gray WF). Water footprints are estimated per nation from both a production and consumption perspective. International virtual water flows are estimated based on trade in agricultural and industrial commodities. The global annual average WF in the period 1996–2005 was 9,087 Gm3/y (74% green, 11% blue, 15% gray). Agricultural production contributes 92%. About one-fifth of the global WF relates to production for export. The total volume of international virtual water flows related to trade in agricultural and industrial products was 2,320 Gm3/y (68% green, 13% blue, 19% gray). The WF of the global average consumer was 1,385 m3/y. The average consumer in the United States has a WF of 2,842 m3/y, whereas the average citizens in China and India have WFs of 1,071 and 1,089 m3/y, respectively. Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the WF of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The volume and pattern of consumption and the WF per ton of product of the products consumed are the main factors determining the WF of a consumer. The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumption and pollution elsewhere.
1,478 citations
"Advancing Water Footprint Assessmen..." refers background in this paper
...Consumers in the US, for instance, have an average water footprint per capita of twice the world average [8]....
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TL;DR: The water footprint of a country is defined as the volume of water needed for the production of the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the country as mentioned in this paper, which shows the extent of water use in relation to consumption of people.
Abstract: The water footprint shows the extent of water use in relation to consumption of people. The water footprint of a country is defined as the volume of water needed for the production of the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the country. The internal water footprint is the volume of water used from domestic water resources; the external water footprint is the volume of water used in other countries to produce goods and services imported and consumed by the inhabitants of the country. The study calculates the water footprint for each nation of the world for the period 1997-2001. The USA appears to have an average water footprint of 2480 m 3 /cap/yr, while China has an average footprint of 700 m 3 /cap/yr. The global average water footprint is 1240 m 3 /cap/yr. The four major direct
1,398 citations
"Advancing Water Footprint Assessmen..." refers background in this paper
...Water-intensive commodities like agricultural, forestry, and mining products are internationally traded, which implies that consumers of these products have water footprints far beyond the places where they live [3]....
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01 Dec 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors quantified and mapped the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution and reported on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF), ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (gray WF).
Abstract: This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (gray WF). Water footprints are estimated per nation from both a production and consumption perspective. International virtual water flows are estimated based on trade in agricultural and industrial commodities. The global annual average WF in the period 1996–2005 was 9,087 Gm3/y (74% green, 11% blue, 15% gray). Agricultural production contributes 92%. About one-fifth of the global WF relates to production for export. The total volume of international virtual water flows related to trade in agricultural and industrial products was 2,320 Gm3/y (68% green, 13% blue, 19% gray). The WF of the global average consumer was 1,385 m3/y. The average consumer in the United States has a WF of 2,842 m3/y, whereas the average citizens in China and India have WFs of 1,071 and 1,089 m3/y, respectively. Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the WF of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The volume and pattern of consumption and the WF per ton of product of the products consumed are the main factors determining the WF of a consumer. The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumption and pollution elsewhere.
1,265 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a set of global water footprint (WF) benchmark values for a large number of crops grown in the world were established and a spatial distribution of the green-blue and grey WFs of different crops was calculated at a spatial resolution of 5 by 5′ with a dynamic water balance and crop yield model.
285 citations
"Advancing Water Footprint Assessmen..." refers background in this paper
...For every process or product that is accompanied with a certain amount of water pollution, we could develop benchmarks that can act as reference levels for what level of pollution is reasonable given available technologies and practices [12]....
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