Innovate to Tackle Climate Change

Sustainable development summits and climate change negotiations have slowly but steadily paved the way to the recognition of the inextricable linkages between water, energy and climate change

It is undeniable that water and energy resources share a strong interdependence. Equally, both are perceived as stressed, precious and with the potential to trigger conflicts. Beyond the generation of electricity via hydropower, energy needs water to cool power plants or to produce biofuel, whereas water needs energy to be treated and distributed. Conversely, poor governance of one sector has knock-on effects for both water and energy security. For instance, a water-intensive industry like mining that often causes point pollution can affect rivers downstream and endanger the environment and human life more broadly.

Among African energy departments, water is an increasing concern on government agendas. In regions such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the ability of water resources to respond to growing industrial development needs, is increasingly questioned today. Despite the controversial history of large dams across Africa, harnessing this continent’s hydropower potential has been a key feature of recent intergovernmental initiatives such as the Inga 3 or the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, as well as the African Union's flagship Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). Apart from large dams’ hydroelectricity, other options have emerged that link water and energy in a more sustainable way.

Innovations such as amplified hydropower generation technology, using a cascade principle in a watercourse to increase efficiency, as well as solar plants sustaining water desalinisation processes and activating water distribution pumps, illustrate how water and energy have learned to speak to each other. In addition, technologies gearing wave and tidal power towards electricity generation or ‘next generation’ hydropower production, such as hydraulic turbines floating in riverbeds, presented at the COP21 solutions exhibition at the Grand Palais, underscore how vital innovation is to respond to climate change challenges.

However, while our societies’ technical skills are expanding at a rapid pace, a gap remains between inventions stemming from public and private research labs and their industrial production to benefit our societies. Bringing scientific and industrial networks to collaborate is essential and forums, such as the Africa Techno organised in South Africa this year, provide concrete platforms for innovative solutions to be turned into climate actions.

More importantly, a rising concern lies in the political and economic treatment of such innovations. Controversial repartition of governments’ incentives between traditional and renewable energy sources reinforces suspicion. One suggestion could be to begin with the better integration of water and energy sectors respective targets and budget allocation regarding infrastructure building and maintenance for increasing sustainability, efficiency and equity for all.

Source: Outreach

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Taxonomy

• Environment
• Climate Change
• Energy