UN Water Development Report examines water-energy link

Coal-fired power plant on the Merrimack River in Bow, N.H. (Credit: ASSIST Aviation Solutions)

The United Nations has released its annual report on water development, according to UN-Water, its inter-agency body that focuses on freshwater issues across the globe.

The 2014 report delves into the connection between water usage and energy. Its findings detail, among other things, the changing availability of water resources and their dependence on sanitation, power and energy sources. Report authors say this connection can bind constraints on economic growth if not managed properly.

Past editions of the World Water Development Report were published every three years. This year’s is the first on a yearly publishing schedule. It follows a shorter format – 100 pages – that may make it more approachable for readers. Its theme coincides with that of World Water Day 2014.

Image: Coal-fired power plant on the Merrimack River in Bow, N.H. (Credit: ASSIST Aviation Solutions)