The 21st Century Sustainability Challenge ─ Water, Food, Energy

One of the greatest challenges of the 21st Century is the problem of how the public and private sectors can sustain economic development and business growth in the face of accelerating demand for water, energy, and food. "Business as usual" projections of scarcity in water, energy, and food predict a lack of these resources sufficient to sustain economic and business growth as well as an adequate standard of living worldwide. Especially troubling is that many of the low- and medium-income economies, which many multinational companies are targeting for growth, are where water, energy, and food shortages are expected to be most acute.

Further complicating this challenge is that these resources are interrelated: it takes water to produce energy; it takes energy to source, treat, and distribute water; and both water and energy are required to produce food. The interdependence of these three resources is known as the water, food, and energy "nexus".

Developments in technology are well documented, but this is the first book to explain the role of innovation in public policy and governance, a topic which is frequently overlooked and often frustrates developments in technology and business. Without innovation in public policy and governance, innovation in technology solutions will face persistent headwinds for adoption. The book showcases these innovations and creates a roadmap of what needs to change to drive economic development, business growth and social wellbeing in the 21^st Century.

Will Sarni is the Director and Founder of the Water Foundry He was a 2016 X-PRIZE Bold Visioneer for the Safe Drinking Water Team and is on the Scientific Program Committee for Stockholm World Water Week and Executive Council of NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). He has written several books, including Corporate Water Strategies and Water Tech – A Guide to Investment, Innovation and Business Opportunities in the Water Sector.

Greg Koch is Senior Director of Global Water Stewardship, Coca-Cola, where he is responsible for leading water stewardship across global business. He serves on the Board for the Global Water Challenge, the Steering Board for the 2030 Water Resources Group, and is active with the CEO Water Mandate.