GC31B-06 Exploring the Role of Essential Water Variables (EWVs) in
Monitoring Indicators for the Sustainable Development of the
Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus, UN-SDGs & Climate Change. Sushel
Unninayar
Abstract
Earth Observations (EO) systems aim to monitor nearly all aspects of the
global Earth environment. Observations of Essential Water Variables
(EWVs) together with advanced data assimilation models, could provide
the basis for systems that deliver integrated information for
operational and policy level decision making that supports the
Water-Energy-Food-Nexus (EO4WEF), and concurrently the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). Implementing integrated EO for GEO-WEF (EO4WEF) systems
requires resolving key questions regarding the selection and
standardization of priority variables, the specification of
technologically feasible observational requirements, and a template for
integrated data sets. This paper presents a concise summary of EWVs
adapted from the GEO Global Water Sustainability (GEOGLOWS) Initiative
and consolidated EO observational requirements derived from the GEO
Water Strategy Report (WSR). The UN-SDGs implicitly incorporate several
other Frameworks and Conventions such as The Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction; The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; and the
Aichi Convention on Biological Diversity. Primary and Supplemental EWVs
that support WEF Nexus & UN-SDGs, and Climate Change are specified. The
EO-based decision-making sectors considered include water resources;
water quality; water stress and water use efficiency; urban water
management; disaster resilience; food security, sustainable agriculture;
clean & renewable energy; climate change adaptation & mitigation;
biodiversity & ecosystem sustainability; weather and climate extremes
(e.g., floods, droughts, and heat waves); transboundary WEF policy.