Addressing the Energy-Water-Food challenge
Hosted by Dick Benschop, President Director Shell Netherlands and Jeremy Bentham, Vice President Global Business Environment
Session closed September 27th, 2012
By 2050, the population of Earth is likely to reach nine billion. As living standards improve, many will also rise out of poverty and live longer, healthier lives.
Yet the world’s growing prosperity will also put stresses on energy, water and food supplies - all of which are closely intertwined. Water is needed for almost all forms of energy production; energy is needed to treat and transport water; and both water and energy are needed to grow food.
In the coming decades, these vital resources will come under even greater pressure. According to the United Nations, by 2030 the world’s growing population and increased prosperity will push up global demand for water by 30%, energy by 40% and food by 50%.
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Addressing the Energy-Water-Food challenge
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Live webchat
Dick Benschop, Jeremy Bentham and other Shell Executives discussed and shared their views on how to tackle the complex issues of the energy-water-food challenge. This session was also timely given the US drought situation which puts into sharp focus the linkages between energy, water and food resources, with water scarcity impacting both food production and electricity generation.
This webchat followed the Powering Progress Together Forum held in May 2012, co-hosted by Shell and the City of Rotterdam, which brought together more than 500 leaders from business, government and civil society to brainstorm new ideas with the public to address these resource challenges.
