232 water insecurity of SC1 Consequently, increased water demand and greater reliance on natural sources for water—such as underground water supplies—would place significant pressure on water availabi[.]
232 water insecurity of SC1 Consequently, increased water demand and greater reliance on natural sources for water—such as underground water supplies—would place significant pressure on water availability, potentially making the Vietnam a water-scarce country by 2030 Policy trade-offs in SC1 The continuation of historical trends like those of SC1 will place Vietnam in a challenging position in which it faces significantly worsening energy and water security, as well as a modest decline in food security Meanwhile, total investment in SC1 amounts to US$ 31.3 billion, placing it in the fourth highest rank compared to other scenarios Consequently, policy makers face difficult policy choices It can be seen that the overall security index of energy, food, and water sectors are likely to deteriorate significantly in comparison to the base year (2014) Typical concerns include heavier energy import dependency, less energy diversity, water intensity, and food import-dependency Given the extreme constraints on energy and food conditions in the country, policy makers may wish to consider alternatives to improve energy, food, and water security For example, in terms of energy security, increasing the country’s energy production capacity or developing more renewable energy resources—such as wind, solar, or biogas—may help reduce dependency on energy import and improve energy diversity Increasing agricultural productivity through the mechanization of farming is one means of reducing food import dependency Moreover, with regard to water efficiency and stress, adopting new irrigation technologies and recycling waste-water to avoid the current overexploitation of underground water may be beneficial However, these alternatives will require much larger and more efficient investment to expand energy production capacity, as well as implementing new technology for water treatment and food production Additionally, more time is required to ensure the readiness of the legal constitution and policies to commercialize new types of energy such as solar or wind electricity, or regulate the use of underground water in rural areas The country will also face other inevitable trade-offs and long-term losses—including the increased risk of energy and water security, greater air pollution, as well as high and overpriced living conditions while suffering low income—resulting in widespread social uncertainty