Opinion: Desalination may be solution to rising sea levels and drought – Times of San Diego

Report on Large-Scale Desalination for Climate Mitigation and Sustainable Development

Executive Summary

This report outlines a proposal for a significant global expansion of ocean water desalination. The primary objectives are to mitigate the effects of climate change, specifically rising sea levels, and to address chronic water shortages worldwide. This initiative is fundamentally aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a comprehensive strategy to advance global targets for water security, climate action, sustainable energy, and economic prosperity.

Proposal Overview: A Strategy for Global Sustainability

The proposal advocates for a vast expansion of desalination capacity to achieve two interconnected goals:

1. Offset the annual rise in global sea levels by extracting a commensurate volume of ocean water.
2. Utilize the resulting freshwater to eliminate water scarcity, support agriculture, and promote economic development, particularly in arid regions.

Current Status and Required Scaling

An analysis of current global water volumes indicates a significant gap between existing desalination output and the amount required to impact sea-level rise.

• Average Annual Sea Level Rise Volume: Approximately 1,230 cubic kilometers.
• Current Annual Global Desalination Volume: Approximately 35 cubic kilometers.

To fully offset the annual sea-level increase, a 35-fold expansion of current global desalination capacity is required. This ambitious scaling presents a monumental engineering and investment challenge but offers unparalleled benefits for achieving key SDGs.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The proposed desalination initiative directly supports a wide range of SDGs, positioning it as a critical project for global sustainable development in the 21st century.

Core Objectives: SDG 6 (Clean Water) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The project’s primary aims are intrinsically linked to SDG 6 and SDG 13. By converting seawater into freshwater on a massive scale, it directly addresses Target 6.1 (achieve universal access to safe drinking water) and Target 6.4 (ensure sustainable withdrawals of freshwater). Simultaneously, by reducing the volume of ocean water, it serves as a direct intervention to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards like coastal flooding, as outlined in Target 13.1.

Supporting Goals: Energy, Food Security, and Health

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The plan necessitates a transition away from fossil fuels for powering desalination plants. The adoption of cost-effective alternatives like nuclear and solar power aligns with Target 7.2 (increase the share of renewable energy).
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Increased freshwater availability can transform arid lands into productive agricultural regions, enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture in line with Target 2.4.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being): By alleviating drought and providing reliable access to clean water, the project can significantly reduce water-borne diseases and deaths, contributing to Target 3.9.

Economic, Infrastructural, and Urban Advancement

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The construction and operation of new mega-plants would generate substantial employment and stimulate economic growth. The extraction of byproducts like lithium can create new revenue streams.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): This represents the largest infrastructure project in history, driving innovation in water technology and sustainable engineering.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Mitigating sea-level rise protects low-lying coastal cities and critical infrastructure from flooding and erosion, directly supporting Target 11.5 (reduce the impact of water-related disasters).

Fostering Peace and Global Partnerships

• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Strategic investment in desalination infrastructure in conflict-affected, water-scarce regions, such as the Gaza Strip, could foster economic stability and peace.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The sheer scale of this undertaking requires unprecedented international cooperation, embodying the spirit of global partnership for sustainable development.

Implementation and Strategic Considerations

Energy Sources and Sustainability (SDG 7)

To ensure the project’s sustainability, new mega-plants should be powered by clean energy. Ideal locations include regions with high solar potential, such as:

• Southwestern United States
• Western Australia
• North and Southwest Africa
• Northern Chile

Economic Feasibility

While the initial investment will be in the hundreds of billions or trillions of dollars, this cost must be weighed against the projected multi-trillion-dollar annual cost of damages from rising sea levels by the end of the century. The economic and social benefits of global water security further justify the investment.

Environmental Management (SDG 14)

Environmental challenges, particularly brine disposal, must be managed to protect marine ecosystems, in line with Target 14.1 (reduce marine pollution). Existing experience demonstrates that these issues are manageable through sustainable practices and technological innovation.

Conclusion: A Call for Global Action

A massive expansion of desalination, powered by clean energy, offers a direct and impactful strategy to combat two of the world’s most pressing challenges: climate change-induced sea-level rise and freshwater scarcity. This initiative provides a tangible pathway to achieving numerous Sustainable Development Goals, from ensuring clean water and food security to protecting coastal communities and fostering global peace. It requires a coordinated global effort, representing a landmark opportunity to invest in a resilient and sustainable future for all.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article’s central theme is addressing “chronic droughts” and “water shortages worldwide” by massively expanding desalination to produce fresh water. It notes that desalination currently benefits 300 million people and is crucial for nations like Saudi Arabia and Israel.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The proposal directly aims to combat a primary consequence of climate change: “rising sea levels.” The article quantifies the “average annual global sea level rise” and proposes a plan to offset it, thus serving as a large-scale climate adaptation strategy.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article acknowledges that a major expense for desalination is the “fossil fuel that runs them.” It explicitly proposes using “nuclear power and solar” as “cost-effective energy alternatives” to power the new mega plants.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The plan involves a “vast expansion of ocean desalination plants globally,” described as potentially “the largest building project in history.” This focuses on developing new, large-scale, and resilient infrastructure to solve environmental and resource challenges.
5. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article acknowledges the environmental impacts of large-scale desalination, specifically mentioning “brine disposal” as a challenge that needs to be managed, which directly relates to preventing marine pollution.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article states that “Nations would need to cooperate to achieve the required volume of water processed” because most countries face the shared threat of rising sea levels, highlighting the need for global partnerships to implement the solution.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article’s proposal to create a massive new supply of fresh water directly addresses water scarcity caused by “chronic droughts.”
   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The plan necessitates storing desalinated water in “lakes, reservoirs and aquifers” and requires international cooperation, aligning with integrated and transboundary water management.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The entire proposal is an adaptation strategy to mitigate the impacts of “rising sea levels,” such as “flooding, erosion,” and the potential “loss of low-lying coastal cities.”
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article advocates for a shift away from fossil fuels to power desalination plants, specifically suggesting “solar” energy as a cost-effective alternative.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The proposal is to build new “massive plants” for desalination, a form of resilient infrastructure designed to protect against climate change impacts and ensure water security.
5. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities. The article identifies “brine disposal” as an environmental challenge, implying that progress would require managing this byproduct to prevent ocean pollution.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article calls for a massive, internationally coordinated effort, implying the need for partnerships between nations and potentially private figures like Elon Musk to fund and execute “the largest building project in history.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
   • Volume of desalinated water produced: The article provides a baseline of “approximately 35 cubic kilometers” per year and proposes a “35-fold increase” to offset sea-level rise. This volume is a direct measure of progress.
   • Population served by desalinated water: The article states that current plants benefit “300 million people.” An increase in this number would be a key indicator of expanded access to fresh water.
   • Percentage of national water supply from desalination: The article cites figures for Israel (projected to reach 70% by 2050) and Saudi Arabia (50%), which can be used as a metric for other nations.
2. Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action)
   • Change in the rate of sea-level rise: The primary goal is to offset the “average annual global sea level rise,” which the article quantifies as “about 1,230 cubic kilometers.” The reduction in this volume would be the main indicator of success.
   • Cost of climate-related damages vs. cost of desalination: The article suggests weighing the project’s cost against the “several trillion up to fourteen trillion dollars annually” in damages from rising sea levels. This cost-benefit ratio serves as an economic indicator.
3. Indicators for SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
   • Percentage of desalination plants powered by renewable energy: The article implies a shift from fossil fuels to “solar” and “nuclear power.” The proportion of energy from clean sources used for desalination would be a clear indicator.
4. Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
   • Number of new desalination plants built: The article mentions there are currently “about 20,000 plants.” The number of new, large-scale plants constructed would be a direct indicator of infrastructure development.
   • Total investment in desalination infrastructure: The article estimates costs in the “hundreds of billions, perhaps several trillions, of dollars,” making financial investment a key progress metric.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: timesofsandiego.com