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Water footprints: Path to enlightenment, or false trail?

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  • Perry, Chris
Abstract
Virtual water and water footprints have gained recognition as indicators to guide action on issues related to water scarcity. I argue that water footprints are fundamentally different from carbon footprints, as local reductions in carbon emissions have global benefits, while global attempts to reduce water footprints will have neither necessary beneficial impacts in areas of local water scarcity, nor global impacts on atmospheric water content. In addition, water footprints have little or no meaning for purposes of setting policy regarding national water use or international trade. Furthermore, the calculation procedures adopted in most estimates of water footprints are flawed. Finally, I suggest that water footprints are incorrectly assessed on an absolute, rather than a relative basis. Water analysts are fortunate to have hydrology, a science with agreed procedures and standards, to use in describing the physical impacts of interventions in the hydrologic cycle. Generalised water footprints are neither accurate nor helpful indicators for gaining a better understanding of water resource management.

Suggested Citation

  • Perry, Chris, 2014. "Water footprints: Path to enlightenment, or false trail?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 119-125.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:134:y:2014:i:c:p:119-125
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2013.12.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dennis Wichelns, 2010. "Virtual Water: A Helpful Perspective, but not a Sufficient Policy Criterion," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(10), pages 2203-2219, August.
    2. Keller, A. A., 1995. "Effective efficiency: a water use efficiency concept for allocating freshwater resources," IWMI Working Papers H043180, International Water Management Institute.
    3. Alberto Garrido & M. Ramón Llamas & Consuelo Varela-Ortega & Paula Novo & Roberto Rodríguez-Casado & Maite M. Aldaya, 2010. "Water Footprint and Virtual Water Trade in Spain," Natural Resource Management and Policy, Springer, number 978-1-4419-5741-2, March.
    4. Dik Roth & Jeroen Warner, 2008. "Virtual water: Virtuous impact? The unsteady state of virtual water," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 25(2), pages 257-270, June.
    5. Keller, A. A., 1995. "Effective efficiency: a water use efficiency concept for allocating freshwater resources," IWMI Working Papers H044344, International Water Management Institute.
    6. de Fraiture, Charlotte & Cai, X & Amarasinghe, Upali & Rosegrant, M. & Molden, David, 2004. "Does international cereal trade save water?: the impact of virtual water trade on global water use," IWMI Research Reports H035342, International Water Management Institute.
    7. Ansink, Erik, 2010. "Refuting two claims about virtual water trade," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 2027-2032, August.
    8. de Fraiture, Charlotte & Cai, Ximing & Amarasinghe, Upali A. & Rosegrant, Mark W. & Molden, David J., 2004. "Does international cereal trade save water? The impact of virtual water trade on global water use," IWMI Research Reports 92832, International Water Management Institute.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marta Antonelli & Martina Sartori, 2014. "Unfolding the Potential of the Virtual Water Concept. What is still under debate?," IEFE Working Papers 74, IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    2. Costa, J.M. & Vaz, M. & Escalona, J. & Egipto, R. & Lopes, C. & Medrano, H. & Chaves, M.M., 2016. "Modern viticulture in southern Europe: Vulnerabilities and strategies for adaptation to water scarcity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 164(P1), pages 5-18.
    3. Arjen Y. Hoekstra, 2017. "Water Footprint Assessment: Evolvement of a New Research Field," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(10), pages 3061-3081, August.
    4. Vincent Egenolf & Stefan Bringezu, 2019. "Conceptualization of an Indicator System for Assessing the Sustainability of the Bioeconomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Christ, Katherine L., 2014. "Water management accounting and the wine supply chain: Empirical evidence from Australia," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 379-396.
    6. Mateos, Luciano & Araus, José L., 2016. "Hydrological, engineering, agronomical, breeding and physiological pathways for the effective and efficient use of water in agriculture," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 164(P1), pages 190-196.
    7. Fernández, J.E. & Alcon, F. & Diaz-Espejo, A. & Hernandez-Santana, V. & Cuevas, M.V., 2020. "Water use indicators and economic analysis for on-farm irrigation decision: A case study of a super high density olive tree orchard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).

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