Energy-Water Nexus in the Context of Climate Change: The U.S.-Mexico Border Region and The Case of California-Baja California
Encina Hall
616 Serra St.
Stanford, CA 94305
The hydropower generation station at Shasta Dam (Cyril Caton via Flickr)
A recap of this event is available on our website: Climate Concerns: Managing Water and Energy Resources along the US-Mexico Border
The U.S.-Mexico border faces water scarcity challenges which are going to get worse with climate change. There are several examples of cooperation on these topics between both sides of the border, at subnational and national levels, such as the minute 319.
Collaborative initiatives addressing the water-energy nexus should be the next logical step. Despite the mutual recognition that there is a strong connection among water, energy and climate change, there is as yet no bilateral agreement on this matter and very limited work to date to identify the climate change challenges to this region or the potential cross-border impacts of future water and energy portfolios.
During the workshop, U.S. and Mexican academics will explore the challenges that water management and energy policy face in a context of climate change and analyze the best framework to address their mutual impacts. This framework will be adapted to fit the the Baja California–California border region and the issues to be discussed include:
- How does current and future water and energy portfolios look like across the border? And how they are interrelated?
- How will climate change as well as socio-economic factors (e.g. population growth, land-use change) affect the water/energy nexus in the future, both regionally and bi-nationally?
- What are the current laws and regulations that dictate water and energy planning across the border?
- What are the implications of such changes and how can we coordinate future planning both across sectors and regions to increase regional resiliency?
- Identifying innovative solutions for groundwater remediation and resource recovery in the rural-farming communities.
AGENDA
Wednesday, September 30
4:30 – 6:30 pm Welcome Reception, Hilton Garden Inn Lobby
Thursday, October 1
7:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast buffet at Hilton Garden Inn for hotel guests
8:45 am Depart Hilton Garden Inn for Stanford University
9:30 – 10:00 am Opening Remarks, Bechtel Conference Center, Encina Hall
Blas L. Pérez Henríquez, Stanford University
Bruce Cain, Stanford University
Jürgen Mahlknecht, ITESM
Sally Benson, Stanford University
Roundtable 1: Water, Energy & Climate Change
10:00 – 10:45 am Sally Benson, Stanford University & Jürgen Mahlknecht, ITESM
10:45 am – 12:00 pm Roundtable Discussion
12:00 – 1:30 pm Luncheon Speaker: Al Sweedler, San Diego State University:
Water-Energy Challenges for California & Baja California
Roundtable 2: Water & Climate Change
1:30 – 2:15 pm Newsha Ajami, Stanford University & Ismael Aguilar Barajas, ITESM:
Commentary on Baja as a Testbed: Gabriela Muñoz, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte
2:15 – 3:15 pm Roundtable Discussion
3:15 – 3:30 pm Coffee Break
Roundtable 3: Water & Energy
3:30 – 4:15 pm Rob Jackson, Stanford University & Alberto Mendoza, ITESM
4:15 – 5:15 pm Roundtable Discussion
5:15 – 6:30 pm Reception, Location: Encina Lawn
6:30 – 8:30 pm Dinner: Oksenberg Room, Third Floor, Encina Hall
8:30 pm Depart Stanford University for Hilton Garden Inn
Friday, October 2
7:00 – 8:15 am Breakfast buffet at Hilton Garden Inn for hotel guests
8:30 am Depart Hilton Garden Inn for Stanford University
Roundtable 4: Connecting the Dots: Towards a Water - Energy Nexus Collaboration
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Blas L. Pérez Henríquez, Stanford University
Newsha Ajami, Stanford University & Ismael Aguilar-Barajas, ITESM
Rob Jackson, Stanford & Alberto Mendoza, ITESM
12:00 – 12:15 pm Closing Remarks, Jürgen Mahlknecht, ITESM & Bruce Cain, Stanford University
12:15 – 1:30 pm Lunch
Adjourn