Our Earth

As the Earth’s population continues to grow, the demand for resources also increases, placing our planet in a pressing environmental crisis. Unless we begin to recognize and address the various issues facing our environment today, the state of the Earth as we know it is at risk. As the next generation with potential to make big changes, millennials need to step up and be the catalyst for an environmental movement. The time is now to start taking active action towards saving the Earth before it’s too late.

Graphic by Megan Morris

Sustainable solutions are needed for food, water and energy

Maintaining a sustainable supply of water, food, and energy is essential to human survival. However, demand for these resources is increasing beyond our ability to replenish. By 2050, demand for water, food and energy is expected to grow 55%, 65%, and 80% respectively.

Developing effective solutions for meeting these demands is important, but requires an understanding that water, food, and energy are all interconnected, meaning that actions in one area often have an impact on one or both of the others.

Dr. Eric Loewen - Chief Consulting Engineer, GEH; Video by Carol Bono

Water

A significant amount of water is necessary to grow food and generate energy. Agriculture accounts for 70% of total global freshwater withdrawals and the energy industry accounts for 10% of the world’s water withdrawals.

Food

Food production is highly dependent on both water and energy. Food demand is predicted to increase 60% by 2050. Additionally, food can be used to produce more energy, but this adds stress on water supplies.

Energy

Energy is essential to producing and distributing both water and food. Energy power is required to pump, treat, and transport water as well as to process, transport, and distribute agricultural goods.

We need a revolutionary energy source

Understanding the water, food, and energy nexus is necessary to future sustainable development. Energy plays a critical role because not only does it have the ability to revolutionize how we approach water and food security, but its high demand requires an abundant power source that does not emit greenhouse gases. We need a revolutionary energy source to power this new generation.

A Visual Language Lab product.
UNC Media and Journalism School
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill