Our consumption patterns are heavily dependent on water: in particular, water from elsewhere in the world and often from areas where water is at a premium. This has to change, according to Prof. Arjen Hoekstra. However, in order for this to happen, we have to create transparency in production and break taboos surrounding, for example, the consumption of meat. Hoekstra's water footprint helps us gain a better understanding of these problems.
"Just like energy, water is beginning to play an increasingly important role in international relations. Water is a global resource. The greatest misconception regarding water is that it is readily available and costs nothing, when in fact it is an important economic factor. We also use water in the production of our products. In the Netherlands - in fact, throughout the whole of Europe - we are dependent on huge amounts of water from elsewhere. This is not sustainable in the long run. India and China produce most of their 'own water'. This is something we will need to start investing in again in Europe. Why, for example, would you use cane sugar if you can produce sugar from sugar beet; a crop that can be grown closer to home, thereby reducing its water footprint considerably? Prof. Arjen Hoekstra is professor of Multidisciplinary Water Management at the IMPACT and IGS institutes at the University of Twente.
ZERO LEVELS OF 'GREY' AND 'BLUE'
The water footprint of a country, product, or company not only denotes the amount of water used but also where in the world the water is used. The green water footprint measures the amount of rainwater needed for a product. The blue water footprint denotes the amount of water that needs to be extracted from the groundwater or the river for irrigation purposes. The grey water footprint represents the water needed to combat pollution. "Put in the most ambitious of terms, we need to reduce the grey and blue footprints to zero", says Hoekstra. "We also need to reduce the green water footprint in rainfed agriculture. By increasing crop production per drop of rain, we will be able to reduce the need for irrigated agriculture and, as a result, the blue footprint."
FLIPSIDE
Hoekstra is not talking about water-saving shower heads. Water footprints deal with much greater quantities of water. He and his colleagues have calculated the water footprint of a number of everyday products: 2700 litres for a cotton t-shirt, 16,000 litres for a kilogramme of beef and 140 litres for a cup of coffee. They also looked at biomass crops, which are grown to generate sustainable energy. "While attempting to solve an energy problem, you end up creating a water problem", says Hoekstra. "It has been proven that the plant jatropha, which holds great promise for biofuels, in fact carries a large water footprint. These research results have prompted much emotional debate among researchers and businesses working with this crop. For although Biomass has great potential, especially the second generation using crop residues, it is not a sure-fire solution to our addiction to fossil fuels. This debate raises awareness about the consequences of water consumption."
TRANSPARENT PRODUCTION
Hoekstra acknowledges that businesses and governments are steadily becoming more aware of the facts and consequences. The international Water Footprint Network that he founded together with organizations such as UNESCO and WWF now boasts 122 partners. Among them are big businesses such as Coca Cola, Unilever, Heineken and Nestlé. "The big players can make important advances in reducing the global water scarcity. But this is why it's important to get governments on board as well. If we want to make production processes more transparent, we will have to establish regulations. Where does the sugar in a drink come from; or the cotton for a t-shirt? Businesses will want to know this in order to be able to estimate the water risks involved: a bad harvest due to drought, for example, could prove a weak link. However, businesses also join our network in the interests of corporate responsibility. If you're asked the question: 'what's your stance on these matters?' you want to be sure you have a ready answer. The company's image here is also at stake."
FLOWERS AND MEAT
"It is always a complex balance. Do you want roses from Kenya in you Dutch bouquet, for example? If so, what are the consequences of the associated water consumption - we've calculated it at 10 litres per rose - for the local ecosystem and fishing industry, and how does this relate to employment opportunities in the country? And this is just one small aspect of our consumption patterns. It never ceases to amaze me the taboos we keep running up against each time we try to take a closer look. For example, we'd rather avoid the subject of eating meat and yet, its consumption scores unfavourably in all respects, especially in terms of its water footprint. The gains made from 'eco-efficient' production, including in this sector, are far outweighed by the increase in consumption and production. We can't continue in this way. Simply shifting the production of water intensive products to water-rich countries is not enough. Sooner or later, we will have to drastically change our consumption patterns."
For further information on the Water Footprint Network, go to: www.waterfootprint.org .
