![]() ![]() Globally, the major gross virtual water exporters are USA, China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, France and Germany and the major gross virtual water importers are the USA, Japan, Germany, China, Italy, Mexico, France, the UK and the Netherlands. Major exporter of mineral water series#(2011) National water footprint accounts: the green, blue and grey water footprint of production and consumption, Value of Water Research Report Series No.50, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, Netherlands.Ĭountries can both import and export virtual water through their international trade relations. Legend: Virtual water imports into Europe. In Europe as a whole, 40% of the water footprint lies outside of its borders. ![]() Instead it results from protection of their domestic water resources, land availability and land uses. Northern European countries import a lot of water in virtual form (more than they export), but this is not driven by water scarcity. This happens, for example, in Mediterranean countries, the Middle East and Mexico. This has implications for food security, economy and diplomacy.įor water-scarce countries it can sometimes be attractive to import virtual water (through import of water-intensive products), thus relieving the pressure on the domestic water resources. Virtual water helps us understand the dependencies our economies have on others’ resources.Ĭoupling this with the water footprint enables us to map out the dependencies and to identify when and where risks may lie, in terms of scarcity and pollution. The water footprint and its translation into virtual water can illuminate these choices and their inter-dependencies. Or a country may choose to reduce the burden on the natural resources within its borders by importing water intensive products.Ī country may select energy security by using its natural resources to produce electricity in exchange for food security by importing food. A country may aim to be self-sufficient by relying primarily on goods that can be produced within its borders. Why is this important?Īs nations work toward securing food, water, energy and other essential inputs for people’s well being, livelihoods and the country’s economic development, most countries rely on imports as well as exports of goods and services. See our FAQs page to clarify the difference between water footprint and virtual water. Virtual water flows help us see how the water resources in one country are used to support consumption in another country. This allows us to link the water footprint of production to the water footprint of consumption, wherever they occur. As food and other products are traded internationally, their water footprint follows them in the form of virtual water. The global trade in goods has allowed countries with limited water resources to rely on the water resources in other countries to meet the needs of their inhabitants. The concept of virtual, or embedded, water was first developed as a way of understanding how water scarce countries could provide food, clothing and other water intensive goods to their inhabitants. ![]()
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