Water Footprinting: Can We Agree On What We Are Measuring?
- When?
- Tuesday 25 September 2012, 12.30 hrs to 13.30 hrs
- Where?
- 45A AZ 04
- Open to:
- Public, Staff, Students
- Speaker:
- Dr Sarah McLaren Director, New Zealand Life Cycle Management Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North
- Admission price:
- No charge
Following on from carbon footprinting, water footprinting is currently the next “big issue” in environmental footprint of products and in consumers’ choices. However, currently there are a number of published methodologies to calculate a water footprint but no one internationally agreed method. Methods can be broadly divided into those based on measuring the volume of water used and those assessing the impacts associated with that water use. Furthermore, they vary in what is considered relevant for assessment. Is rainwater relevant for inclusion? Is evaporated water really lost from the system? Does it matter if water is withdrawn, used and then released back into different water shed? What does “water use” actually mean?
A Water Footprint Working Group of the International Organisation for Standardisation has been meeting since November 2009 in order to develop an international standard to clarify this situation. Dr McLaren is the New Zealand representative on that group, and in this seminar she will discuss the role of international standards, how the standard is progressing, and the opportunities as well as the challenges associated with such processes.