Topic > Analysis of water problems from an economic, environmental and social point of view

IndexIntroductionWater sustainability in CorkWater sustainability in IrelandGlobal water sustainabilityWater sustainability and societyWater sustainability and the environmentWater sustainability and the economyIntroductionThe United Nations has described food security as “the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life ”. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay With the world's population continually growing, the goal of implementing sustainability and food security around the world is becoming even more difficult. By 2050, the world population is expected to increase by another two billion people and during this period the demand for food is expected to increase by 60% according to Fan et al. Due to this projected increase in demand for food, there is the question of whether the earth's natural resources, such as land and water, will be too scarce to fuel this drastic increase in population worldwide. This presents society with an enormous challenge that will have economic, social and environmental impacts. These three areas together can be described as the “triple bottom line” of food sustainability. The triple bottom line is the belief that these areas of the food system contribute to each other to help establish a sustainable system in food production. This is a theory, there are various different myths that say that sustainability and food security are not achievable. One of the most discussed myths about this is that trade-offs between the three bottom lines cannot be avoided. However, they argue that these perceptions are harmful attempts to call for a sustainable food system around the world and that they think it is possible with proper planning and knowledge in the area of ​​food sustainability. This report will focus on the topic of water and how agricultural and industrial processes have affected it in a negative way. The aim is to provide an analysis of water sustainability and problems caused by water pollution. Water problems will be discussed from economic, environmental and social perspectives, i.e. from the triple bottom line. The increase in population does nothing but fuel the problem of water security. The next 30 years will be crucial as the demand for fresh water will increase rapidly. This is extremely concerning as freshwater supplies are dwindling and must be addressed as soon as possible. Globally, our largest natural resource is water, but only 3% of it is freshwater. Of that 3%, only a third is available for use because the rest is too far below the Earth's surface or is frozen. According to the Global Environment Facility, global income growth is positively correlated with increased incomes. demand for water-intensive goods. Water sustainability is also heavily impacted by climate change, making policymakers uneasy about how society is a direct cause of the problem. Additionally, policymakers are concerned about how the agricultural sector is affecting water sustainability, as more than 70% of the world's freshwater use comes from this sector. This level of water consumption will not be sustainable for much longer, especially as demand is increasing. Despite all this, there are several programs put in place with the aim of making agricultural practices lesswasteful of water. These programs will be examined later in the report. The issue of water sustainability is vital and this paper will discuss its importance at local, national and global levels and how economic, social and environmental aspects influence food sustainability. WaterSustainability in Cork Water sustainability in Cork city and county has never been a major issue, however, last summer the country went through a drought, which meant that necessary conservation restrictions had to be implemented. At the time, while this drought was occurring, fresh water levels had declined at the Inniscarra Dam, which is of great importance to farms around the county and has provided fresh water to the city since its existence in 1953. However , this era was halted during the drought as the ESB ensured that "electricity generation at Inniscarra Dam was halted as priority was given to ensuring the flow of water to Cork". This allowed the city to avoid many of the problems the rest of the country faced due to drought. Maintaining the flow of water in a river can be crucial because if the flow of water becomes still, this will decrease the quality of the river. water which in turn would impact families and businesses that depend on high quality fresh water. This fresh water, along the Lee River, also plays a key role in protecting the ecosystems that exist within it, known as environmental flow. The environmental flow cannot be underestimated as it plays a key role in the climate change agenda. If water flow is not properly controlled, this will have consequences on all three levels of sustainability. The ecosystems that are established along the River Lee and Inniscarra Dam in terms of supporting the flow of water are crucial to its survival, especially during periods of drought as they would not be able to continue to thrive while the flow of water water is stagnant. Socially, the people of Cork would be severely affected in both health and economic terms. This would impact how local businesses are run, particularly those that rely on fresh water. Cork farmers would be most affected as they are heavily dependent on properly managed water flow. Heineken, which is based in Cork City, is an example of a company constantly striving for innovative new ideas to try and achieve the triple bottom line. of sustainability. Heineken is one of the largest beverage companies in the world and has created a program called "Brewing a Better World" for its cork brewery. This was established to try to achieve full sustainability and also to demonstrate that the myths of different triple bottom line trade-offs are not always true. In particular, this scheme pays particular attention to economic and environmental factors. This paper will discuss Heineken's sustainability report, paying more attention to water use and the different techniques they are using in Cork, in an effort to achieve sustainable water use. Water is the main ingredient used in beer production, and beer is made from about 95% water. However, Heineken has managed to reduce the level of water consumption by 20% compared to several Heineken breweries around the world. The Heineken brewery in Cork is also working with the Ecolab company to help improve the way they use water to ensure the amount of waste is kept as low as possible. All wastewater remaining in the brewery is then transportedat the Cork City Wastewater Treatment Plant. Heineken is a great example of a cork company trying to promote water sustainability while managing to increase its market share. It simply shows how companies can work to try to achieve a full level of triple bottom line sustainability without compromising for one another, as we often see with other multinational corporations who are only interested in making profits, even if they have a negative impact . the environment and society. It is vital that Cork City Council does more to try to promote the sustainability of the water around Cork in order to maintain a sufficient level of fresh water so that Cork residents can lead healthier lives. This will also help keep businesses afloat and ensure that ecosystems will be able to survive. Water Sustainability in Ireland At a national level, 'Irish Water' is responsible for all WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services in Ireland. They provide fresh water to over three million people every day. Their job is to make sure that the people of Ireland have access to clean drinking water and to treat wastewater levels across the country. Karen Gallagher, senior engineer at Irish Water, said they would be improving their water facilities across the country with the aim of creating a fully sustainable water system. In his report for Irish Water (2015) he examines how they can improve their facilities to produce a fully sustainable water service across the country which would be vital for “our health, our communities, the economy and the environment”. This would examine the factors that contribute to the triple bottom line of sustainable growth by focusing on the economic, environmental and social aspects that a sustainable water system would provide. This report also provides a compelling account of what the world would be like if everyone lived their lives like an average North American, and if that were the case, we would need 5 planet Earths to support the amount of water used. This is why sustainability is so important to ensure we live within the capabilities of one planet earth rather than five. The report discusses the framework they will use to achieve a fully sustainable water system, their goals and how they will maintain it at a constant level. economic, environmental and social level. The eight objectives addressed in the report are: "Resource efficiency, climate change, habitat and wildlife, economic development, health, services, social impact and cultural and cultural heritage." These eight goals all seek to provide a focus in achieving the Triple Aim of water sustainability. Further examination of the report suggests that, within these eight goals, the goal of water sustainability with the use of policies is becoming much more effective in ensuring water security at a national level, while reducing expenditure on Irish Water so that it becomes more economically sustainable. Water sustainability in Ireland is linked to the agricultural sector. This means that farmers across the country play a vital role in maintaining water levels. This topic is further discussed in the Department of Agriculture's 2017 report. This report discusses the establishment of a water network created to encourage sustainable water use by providing leadership advice and guidance. This water network is in charge of monitoring water-based activities that different organizations support across the country with the aim of improving overall water sustainability. An example of theseorganizations are Teasgasc and Bord Bia. The water network has different directions to follow, paying more attention to waste management, the protection of flora and fauna and the levels of nitrates emitted. Overall, the Water Network is encouraging the promotion of water sustainability, not only in the agricultural sector, but also in the marine and forestry sectors, which will benefit the country at all levels of the triple bottom line of sustainability. This report shows how the Government recognizes how crucial sustainable water is in ensuring long-term health and food security for the foreseeable future. The projects that have been put in place are in accordance with similar EU programs with the same focus on trying to increase water sustainability while reducing water pollution levels. Ireland's problem with water security will continue to be a huge problem in all areas of the country. the economy. In terms of the economic, social and environmental aspects of the triple bottom line, it is vital that the Government continues to promote all levels of water sustainability in order to realize a sustainable future for its people. While there are already programs in place, there is still much to be done. Global water sustainability Sustainable water around the world is currently a major concern. Water is the sixth United Nations sustainable development goal and sets out how the planet must ensure "sustainable sanitation and water control by 2030". However, the world currently fails to achieve this goal. This is a topic of concern for members of the United Nations, especially the UN Water Department, which is responsible for creating policies regarding water sustainability and pollution. One of the fundamental human rights established by the United Nations is access to clean, fresh water. However, this is not the case for millions of people around the world. “Fresh water, in sufficient quantity and quality, is essential for all aspects of life and sustainable development. Human rights to water and sanitation are widely recognized by Member States. Water resources are integrated into all forms of development, in supporting economic growth in agriculture, industry and energy production, and in maintaining healthy ecosystems.” This quote, taken from the United Nations Water Synthesis Report, shows how sustainable water is in accordance with the three fundamental pillars of sustainability and how it is relevant socially, environmentally and economically. This sixth sustainable development goal focuses on dividing the area into different goals in which to successfully achieve its goal. These goals will incorporate the three pillars of sustainability and will be shown below: Water Sustainability and Society In the United Nations Water Synthesis Report, it discusses how water sustainability plays a significant role in society in ensuring health and well-being in all nations, as well as in successfully achieving food. safety. There is a very strong link between poverty and unsafe water levels, which is one of the key objectives, outlined in the Sixth Development Goal, to provide clean and safe drinking water to all societies by 2030. The decline in disease and poverty due Access to clean water would be so great that for every euro invested in water, sanitation and hygiene it would produce a euro return. This shows that by focusing on all sectors, sustainability can be achieved. Water sustainability and environment Many ecosystems and the different species in them.