As the world faces increasingly complex challenges related to climate change, the interconnection between water, energy and food becomes critical to ensuring the sustainability and resilience of social and environmental systems. Climate technology has emerged as a powerful tool to address these issues in an integrated way, offering innovative solutions to drive climate action and improve water, energy and food security.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has played a crucial role in promoting collaboration and the development of climate technologies. Recently, the UNFCCC released a report highlighting the importance of connecting climate technology with strategic actions in the areas of water, energy and food in order to achieve sustainable global development goals.
In the water sector, climate technology has been instrumental in improving water efficiency, ensuring access to clean water and addressing the challenges of water scarcity. Innovations such as rainwater harvesting, reuse systems and desalination have enabled the supply of clean and safe water to communities in regions affected by climate change.
By 2025, it is estimated that around half of the global population will reside in areas affected by water scarcity, which represents a significant challenge for humanity. Furthermore, in less developed countries, alarming data reveal that approximately 22% of health facilities do not have access to water services, 21% do not have basic sanitation and 22% lack adequate waste management systems.
In the energy sector, the transition to clean and renewable energy sources is essential to mitigate climate impacts. There is still an experience where oil products are at 42.3%, electricity at 16.2%, natural gas at 16.0%, renewable energies at 13.7%, mineral coal at 8.4% and others at 3.5%. Energy use needs to keep up with trends towards technological innovations that reduce greenhouse effect data. Climate technology plays a vital role in accelerating this transition, with advances in renewable energy, energy storage and energy efficiency. For example, the development of more efficient solar panels and large-scale energy storage systems has contributed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the promotion of energy sustainability.
In the food sector, climate technology has focused on addressing the challenges of food security and sustainable agriculture. Vertical farming systems, low-carbon farming techniques and the use of data and sensors to improve agricultural efficiency have made it possible to produce food in a more sustainable way, reducing the environmental impact and strengthening the resilience of food systems. According to FAO, between 702 and 828 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy and active life, this corresponds to 9.8% of the world's population.
Climate technology also plays a crucial role in facilitating technology transfer and building capacity in developing countries to address challenges related to water, energy and food. International collaboration and exchange of technical knowledge has driven the implementation of innovative solutions in different parts of the world. During the period between the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021, investments in the amount of US$ 87.5 billion were directed. This substantial amount of resources was allocated across different sectors and initiatives, reflecting a significant commitment to driving development forward and addressing global challenges in this given period.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that improvements in energy efficiency can reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by up to 28% by 2050. Another point is that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that sustainable agriculture can contribute to the reduction of 5.6 gigatons of CO2 emissions per year by 2030. Associated with climate technology, there is the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies that have the potential to remove up to 10 gig tons of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2050, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Another point linked to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is the estimated investment of US$ 1.8 trillion in climate adaptation measures by 2030 could generate net benefits of around US$ 7.1 trillion.
Despite significant advances, there are still challenges to be overcome. Adequate funding, large-scale technology transfer and building strong partnerships are essential elements to accelerate the adoption of climate technologies around the world.
As the urgency for climate action increases, it is crucial to recognize and promote the interconnectedness between water, energy and food. Climate technology plays a key role in this process, providing integrated solutions that address the interdependent challenges we face. Global cooperation and continued investment in climate technology research and development are key to achieving a sustainable and resilient future for all.
