The Energy-Water-Climate Nexus and Its Impact on Queensland's Intensive Farming Sector

Abstract

Energy and water are inextricably connected in agricultural systems. This chapter discusses the role of climate change on the energy-water nexus and how efforts to increase efficiency in both energy and water end uses can increase Queensland’s agricultural sector’s resilience. Climate change is continuing to affect water availability and put new stresses on energy systems (particularly in constrained areas), but the degree of future impacts is uncertain, particularly given the changing climate patterns moving towards increasing frequency and the duration of drought conditions, coupled with extreme weather events. Whilst there are a range of technological solutions to improve efficiencies and ultimately productivity, further government and policy support is needed, and this support needs to be coordinated to avoid unintended consequences which have arisen from previous government programmes. This chapter also discusses how efficiency in energy and water end uses can reduce the sector exposure to acute and chronic stressors, including high utility bills which, with climate change, are negatively impacting agricultural productivity. Queensland’s intensive agricultural sector stands to gain significantly from an energy-water productivity agenda which acknowledges climate change.