Abstract
Globally, natural resources are increasingly under pressure, especially due to population growth, economic growth and transformation as well as climate change. As a result, the water, energy and food (WEF) nexus approach has emerged to understand interdependencies and commonly manage resources within a multi-scale and multi-level framework. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the high and growing consumption of traditional biomass for cooking purposes - notably fuelwood and charcoal - is both a key source of energy and contributor for food security as well as a pressure on natural resources. Improving the bioenergy value chains is essential for limiting environmental degradation and for securing the livelihoods of millions of people. Although the WEF nexus approach entails large potential to address the complex problems arising along the bioenergy value chains, these are currently not considered. Based on the WEF nexus approach, we analyze the different steps within the charcoal value chain in Sub-Saharan Africa and highlight the respective interdependencies and the potential for improving overall socio-economic and environmental sustainability. We emphasize the water, energy and food related implications of vicious and virtuous production cycles, separated by value chain segments. We discuss the potential and major challenges for implementing more sustainable value chains. Furthermore, we underline the necessity of applying WEF nexus approaches to these value chains in order to optimize environmental and social outcomes.
Highlights
Reviewed by: Mukhtar Ahmed, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan Gautam Shankar Dutt, MGM Innova, United States
Based on the WEF nexus approach, we analyze the different steps within the charcoal value chain in Sub-Saharan Africa and highlight the respective interdependencies and the potential for improving overall socio-economic and environmental sustainability
With this article we argue that the WEF nexus approach is an especially well suited concept for tackling a major and strongly disputed economic, social, and environmental issue in SSA: charcoal production
Summary
This perspective article argues that it is urgent to anew tackle the charcoal issue as one of the key challenges for energy, food, and water security in SSA. We want to demonstrate that these new concepts are especially well-suited to address and overcome existing multi-dimensional challenges and to support the development of sustainable charcoal value chains. This new perspective is argued to accommodate recent political multidimensional initiatives, notably the Agenda 2030. Traditional bioenergy including charcoal does not play a role in WEF nexus and ecosystem services approaches yet and we urge researchers and policy makers to apply them to charcoal value chains on all scales to close this gap and therewith help to solve challenges that have been present for many decades.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
