Irrigation of biomass plantations may globally increase water stress more than climate change

Stenzel, F., Greve, P., Lucht, W., Tramberend, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7024-1075, Wada, Y. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4770-2539, & Gerten, D. (2021). Irrigation of biomass plantations may globally increase water stress more than climate change. Nature Communications 12 (1) e1512. 10.1038/s41467-021-21640-3.

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Abstract

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is considered an important negative emissions (NEs) technology, but might involve substantial irrigation on biomass plantations. Potential water stress resulting from the additional withdrawals warrants evaluation against the avoided climate change impact. Here we quantitatively assess potential side effects of BECCS with respect to water stress by disentangling the associated drivers (irrigated biomass plantations, climate, land use patterns) using comprehensive global model simulations. By considering a widespread use of irrigated biomass plantations, global warming by the end of the 21st century could be limited to 1.5 °C compared to a climate change scenario with 3 °C. However, our results suggest that both the global area and population living under severe water stress in the BECCS scenario would double compared to today and even exceed the impact of climate change. Such side effects of achieving substantial NEs would come as an extra pressure in an already water-stressed world and could only be avoided if sustainable water management were implemented globally.

Item Type:	Article
Research Programs:	Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) > Water Security (WAT)
Depositing User:	Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited:	08 Mar 2021 11:35
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2024 12:43
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/17076

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