Work

Global energy and water provision under nature constraints

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Global population, energy, water, and food consumption have risen since 1950. This paper resorts to the water-energy-food nexus for the analysis of conditions that must be achieved for a sustainable global society. This work demonstrates that the annual water intensity (or per capita consumption) rose by 32.4% between 1950 and 2024, whereas the energy intensity rose by 63.1% between 1965 and 2024. The CO 2 intensity rose 92.4% between 1950 and 2024. These statistics establish that the world has become more water intensive, energy intensive, and carbon intensive since 1950. The annual energy, water, and CO 2 intensities are projected to reach 24.1 MWh/person, 632 m 3 /person, and 4.45 metric tons per person by 2050, respectively. The rise in population has led to food insecurity and energy insecurity in several regions of the world, a situation that will be exacerbated as the world population is expected to grow from 8.2 billion in 2024 to 9.71 billion in 2050, and climax at 10.3 billion in 2024. Fossil fuels accounted for about 77% of the annual energy consumed worldwide between 1965 and 2024. Wind and solar energy consumption has grown most rapidly among the renewable sources since 2005 while nuclear energy has contributed less than 5% to the global energy consumption since 1965. CO 2 emissions reached 37.8 gigatons in 2024, and are projected to reach 43.2 gigatons in 2050. This paper shows that carbon capture and storage cannot meaningfully reduce atmospheric CO 2 in view of the magnitude of greenhouse gases emissions. A breakthrough in clean-energy provision is necessary to free the world from fossil fuels. This work proposes development strategies to achieve sustainability with respect to water, energy, and food provision under naturally imposed constraints.

Source: Environmental Research Communications

DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ae1f82

Author: Hugo A Loaiciga

Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara

Language: English

Topic: Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,050