Confronting scarcity: Managing water, energy and land

European Report on Development

This report focuses on water, energy and land. It examines the constraints on each, the interrelationships between them and then considers how they can be managed together to promote growth in developing countries that is both socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

The report analyses in more detail how action is particularly required in five areas:
1. Radically reduce the environmental footprint of consumption (especially, but not only, in developed countries such as the EU)
to promote inclusive growth without increasing resource use.
2. Promote innovation to increase agricultural productivity to feed more than 9bn people sustainably by 2050 and scale up
renewable energy technologies that help to deliver sustainable energy for all by 2030.
3. Establish or reform institutions for an integrated approach towards managing resources.
4. Push for inclusive land policy to ensure access to land and water for the poorest and most vulnerable.
5. Price natural resources and services comprehensively and appropriately (e.g. using instruments such as payments for ecosystem services, PES), whilst safeguarding the welfare of the poorest.

European Report on Development 2011

Supported by the European Commission and seven Member States (Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), the European Report on Development (ERD) is the main output of the "Mobilising European Research for Development Policies" initiative. This flagship report is published since 2009, with the aim of stimulating debate and research on topics of major relevance for development, as well as to enhance the European perspective in the international development arena.

 

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