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A Comprehensive Introduction to Water Footprints

A Comprehensive Introduction to Water Footprints. Arjen Hoekstra Professor in Water Management – University of Twente – the Netherlands Scientific Director – Water Footprint Network. www.waterfootprint.org. Overview Presentation. 1. The water footprint of products

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A Comprehensive Introduction to Water Footprints

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  1. A Comprehensive Introduction to Water Footprints Arjen Hoekstra Professor in Water Management – University of Twente – the Netherlands Scientific Director – Water Footprint Network www.waterfootprint.org

  2. Overview Presentation 1. The water footprint of products 2. The relation between consumption, trade and water 3. The water footprint of a business 4. From concept to practice Water footprint impact assessment Reducing and offsetting water footprints 5. Conclusion 6. The way forward

  3. 1 The water footprintof products

  4. Water footprint of a product ►the volume of fresh water used to produce the product, summed over the various steps of the production chain. ►when and where the water was used: a water footprint includes atemporal and spatial dimension. ►type of water use: green, blue, grey water footprint.

  5. Water footprint of a product Green water footprint • ► volume of rainwater evaporated. Blue water footprint • ► volume of surface or groundwater evaporated. Grey water footprint • ► volume of polluted water.

  6. Production chain cotton

  7. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  8. Water footprint of EU’s cotton consumption (blue water) [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  9. Water footprint of EU’s cotton consumption (green water) [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  10. Water footprint of EU’s cotton consumption (grey water) [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  11. The water footprint: making a link between consumption in one place and impacts on water systems elsewhere Shrinking Aral Sea

  12. The water footprint: making a link between consumption in one place and impacts on water systems elsewhere Endangered Indus River Dolphin [Photo: WWF]

  13. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  14. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  15. [Aldaya & Hoekstra, 2009]

  16. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  17. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  18. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  19. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  20. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  21. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  22. [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  23. Water footprint of biofuels from different crops [litre/litre] [Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra & Van der Meer, 2008]

  24. 2 The relation between consumption, trade and water

  25. Water footprint of a nation • ►total amount of water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. • ►two components: • internal water footprint – inside the country. • external water footprint – in other countries.

  26. Water footprint of a nation • ► National water footprint = national water use + virtual water import • – virtual water export

  27. National water accounting framework Virtual water import for re-export Water use for export Virtual water export = + + + + External water footprint Internal water footprint Water footprint = + = = = Virtual water import Water use within country Virtual water budget + = The traditional statistics on water use Export Consumption Import Production

  28. Regional virtual water balances(only agricultural trade) Arrows show trade flows >10 Gm3/yr [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  29. Global average water footprint Water footprint per capita [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  30. Global water footprint of the Netherlands 82% of the Dutch water footprint is outside its own borders [Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2008]

  31. Environmental Water Scarcity Index [Smakhtin, Revenga & Doll, 2004]

  32. The impact of the water footprint of the Netherlands: hotspots

  33. 3 The water footprint of a business

  34. Water footprint of a business Operational water footprint • the direct water use by the producer – for producing, manufacturing or for supporting activities. Supply-chain water footprint • the indirect water use in the producer’s supply chain.

  35. blue water use blue water use blue water use grey water grey water grey water The virtual water chain Virtual Virtual Virtual water water water flow flow flow Food Consumer Retailer Farmer processer green and blue water use grey water [Hoekstra, 2008]

  36. blue water use blue water use blue water use grey water grey water grey water The water footprint of a retailer Virtual Virtual Virtual water water water flow flow flow Food Consumer Retailer Farmer processer green and blue water use grey water End-use WF of a product Supply chain WF Operational WF [Hoekstra, 2008]

  37. 4 From concept to practice

  38. From water footprint accounting to policy formulation Vulnerability of local water systems Current water stress in the places where the water footprint is localised 1 2 3 • Spatiotemporal-explicit water footprint of a • product • individual • community • business • Impacts of the • water footprint • environmental • social • economic Reduce and offset the negative impacts of the water footprint [Hoekstra, 2008]

  39. Water footprint impact assessment Global map of where the water footprint is located Global map of where water systems are stressed Overlay Global hotspot map

  40. Hypothetical example Global water footprint of a business located in the Netherlands Environmental water scarcity Main producing regions Producing countries Hotspots • Hotspots are spots where • the business has a substantial water footprint • (2) water is stressed. Main producing regions Hotspots

  41. Reducing and offsetting the impacts of water footprints Reduction: all what is ‘reasonably possible’ should have been done to reduce the existing water footprint; do not undertake water-using activities if better alternatives are available. Offsetting: the residual water footprint is offset by making a ‘reasonable investment’ in establishing or supporting projects that aim at a sustainable, equitable and efficient use of water in the catchment where the residual water footprint is located. [Hoekstra, 2008]

  42. Shared responsibility and an incremental approach • Consumers or consumer or environmental organizations push businesses and governments to address water use and impacts along supply chains. • Some businesses act voluntarily in an early stage. • Governments promote businesses in an early phase and implement regulations in a later phase.

  43. 6 The way forward

  44. www.waterfootprint.org Mission: Promoting sustainable, equitable and efficient water use through development of shared standardson water footprint accounting and guidelines for the reduction and offsetting of impacts of water footprints. Network: bringing together expertise from academia, businesses, civil society, governments and international organisations. Status today: 29 partners from six continents

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