On September 11th, the 18th World Water Resources Conference with the theme "Water and All Things: Harmonious Coexistence of Humans and Nature" opened in Beijing. The conference focused on global water safety issues such as frequent water disasters, water scarcity, aquatic ecosystem damage, water environmental pollution, in the context of climate change. Participants came together to discuss strategies for addressing water security risks and challenges.
The high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin is crucial for ensuring China's energy and food security. Simultaneously, it's an area characterized by a fragile ecosystem and significant conflicts in water supply and demand. To explore a specific path for the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin and achieve sustainable and coordinated development of "water, energy, food, and ecosystem," a special session meeting with the theme "Yellow River Basin Water Resources-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus Coordinated Management" was held on the morning of September 13th.
This conference was organized by the China Energy Model Forum (CEMF) and co-hosted by Tsinghua University's Center for Industrial Development and Environmental Governance (CIDEG). The meeting was chaired by Brian Jackson, the project manager of the American Environmental Protection Association. The keynote speeches were delivered by Zhu Yongnan, a senior engineer at the Institute of Water Resources of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Liu Wenfeng, a professor at the College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering of China Agricultural University, and Qiu Ying, Deputy Director of Projects at the China Energy Model Forum. Jia Shaofeng, a researcher at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, served as the host for the session.
The roundtable discussion on "Coordinated Governance of the Yellow River Basin's Water- Energy- Food-Ecosystem Nexus" featured discussions with Jiang Kejun, a researcher at the Energy Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, Brian Jackson, the project manager of the American Environmental Protection Association, Jiang Luguang, Deputy Researcher at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and You Jinjun of the Global Water Partnership China Committee, sharing their insights.
The conference attracted the participation of nearly a hundred experts, policymakers, and researchers from the field.
Engineer Zhu Yongnan's Keynote Speech
During the keynote speech, Engineer Zhu Yongnan discussed in detail the strategic research on the coordinated development of water, food, and energy in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River. He emphasized the need to follow the "Four Modernizations and One Innovation" strategy for coordinated security assurance to achieve the coordinated development of water, energy, and food in the Yellow River's upper and middle reaches. He also provided effective recommendations in support of this strategy.
Professor Liu Wenfeng's Thematic Speech
Professor Liu Wenfeng of the College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering at China Agricultural University elucidated the significance of irrigation for crop production and its contribution to the overall yield benefits. He presented a series of practical measures to reduce the consumption of water resources through irrigation. Additionally, he explored the impact of climate change on this complex agricultural system, including the effects of extreme weather events on irrigation and food production, addressing the challenges associated with the application of irrigation in both the global and Chinese contexts.
Vice Director Qiu Ying introduced the work of the China Energy Model Forum (CEMF).
Deputy Director Qiu Ying briefly introduced the background and the work conducted by the China Energy Model Forum (CEMF). The work is centered around climate stability, strengthening human and natural adaptation to climate change, and closely examining the nexus between water, energy, and ecosystems. She also shared key research findings from the Yellow River Basin as part of the "2035 Beautiful China" project by the China Energy Model Forum, emphasizing important policy coordination points and trade-offs related to the nexus relationship.
In the roundtable discussion segment, Researcher Jiang Kejun from the Energy Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research explained the specific role of the Yellow River Basin in China's dual-carbon pathway towards achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. He shared insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the Yellow River Basin in developing and promoting new energy industries and discussed potential actions that can be taken. Jiang Kejun suggested that developing the new energy sector could help alleviate water resource pressures in the basin.
You Jinjun from the Global Water Partnership China Committee presented key ecological issues and development trends in the Yellow River Basin. He analyzed the basin from both natural geographical features and human activities perspectives. Within the framework of the "water-energy-food-ecosystem" nexus in the Yellow River Basin and the goals of low-carbon water resource utilization and improved water resource management, he proposed four principles for basin protection and development: respecting the status quo, safeguarding basic needs, driving efficiency, and achieving spatial balance.
Brian Jackson, the project manager of the American Environmental Protection Association, shared differences between the United States and China in terms of basin relationships and coordinated management. He called for increased collaboration among stakeholders and experts, especially in building mechanisms for government-community coordination and joint management of groundwater and surface water, to provide lasting solutions to basin water resource issues.
Deputy Researcher Jiang Luguang from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shared his research findings in the field of ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin. He discussed how to coordinate ecological protection, especially in addressing conflicts between vegetation development and water resources.
Subsequently, the attending experts and guest speakers engaged in a lively discussion. This conference has garnered significant attention from scholars. "Tsinghua University CIDEG" will be releasing expert insights from the event soon, so please stay tuned for updates!
