Water security challenges emanating from the intersections of climate and water scarcity in the arid Americas: ENERGY Sharon B. Megdal, Ph.D. Director, Water Resources Research Center The University of Arizona smegdal@cals.arizona.edu Climate Risk and Water Security in the Americas Workshop 1 March 2011 Photo Credit: Luetta Calloway http://southwest.construction.com/southwest _contractor_news/2010/1019_HooverDamByp assBridge.asp http://ag.arizona.edu/azwater/arroyo/Arroyo_2010.pdf 1 http://ag.arizona.edu/azwater/arroyo/Arroyo_2010.pdf More people => Demand for More water + More energy More water <=> More energy Dynamic Relationship 2 3 Source: Gerardo Hiriart. Sea and brackish water desalination with renewable energies. IMPULSA project of UNAM, Vancouver, 4May2006 4 Vulnerabilities…Consider Lake Mead in the Colorado River System Increasing demands Drought and climate change Earthquakes Institutional arrangements Others Photo Credit: Luetta Calloway http://southwest.construction.com/southwest_cont ractor_news/2010/1019_HooverDamBypassBridge.a sp 5