582
S. Y. Teh and H. L. Koh
pathways of GHG emissions and land use patterns (IPCC 2014). Predicted SLR
induced by climate change will increase salt water intrusion in coastal aquifers.
Against this background, Wassef and Schüttrumpf (2016) examine the impact of
the expected changes in SLR in the Mediterranean Sea on groundwater salinity.
Their simulations indicate that predicted SLR alone, without increase in groundwater extraction, could destroy parts of the protective offshore sand belt, which is
already decimated by reduced sediment flows interrupted by the construction of dams
in the Nile. Without this sand belt, recreational tourism and beach facilities will be
inundated, and water quality in coastal fresh water lagoons will be adversely altered.
This will vastly reduce the ecological services provided by the coastal seas and will
have grave impacts on residents’ livelihoods. Increase in groundwater extraction
rates to accommodate population growth will further intensify salt intrusion. Where
the groundwater extraction rates are low, SLR is the dominant factor driving groundwater salinization. On the other hand, where groundwater extraction rates are high,
groundwater extractions become the dominant factor in driving groundwater salinization (Wassef and Schüttrumpf 2016). High groundwater extractions coupled with
high SLR will spell disaster. Balancing groundwater extraction against predicted
SLR is a daunting task requiring a coordination of a multitude of disciplines across
different spatial and temporal scales. This is where STEM is critically useful.
In addition to salinity intrusion and depletion in groundwater due to accelerated
extractions, a variety of pollution sources consisting of agricultural fertilizers, pesticides and industrial and domestic wastes, have imposed further constraints to the
availability of fresh water for human life and ecosystem vitality. Understanding the
extent of groundwater contamination and its causes are critical measures in managing
groundwater availability and contamination. Towards achieving this goal, Narany
et al. (2017) compiled a series of nitrate concentrations over a period of 25 year
(from 1989 to 2014) to study the impact of land use changes including agriculture
on the quality of groundwater in Northern Kelantan, Malaysia, where large scale
deforestation in recent decades has occurred. The integration of time series analysis
and geospatial modelling revealed that nitrate (NO 3 –N) concentrations have significantly increased by 8.1 and 3.9% annually in agricultural and residential wells water
respectively, over the 25 years. In 1989, wells with nitrate concentrations exceeding
10 mg/L covered only 1% of the total area studied. However, by 2014 that percentage
has increased sharply to 48% of the total area, casting grave concern for the future
of groundwater resources in Kelantan. This grave scenario is repeated elsewhere in
many countries, including China and Europe.
Over in Europe, fifty years after its adoption, the European Common Agricultural
Policy continues to support its primary goals of providing quality food at affordable
prices (SDG 2: no hunger) and a decent standard of living for farmers (SDG 1:
no poverty), while maintaining environmental health and ecosystem vitality (SDG
15: healthy life on land), simultaneously fulfilling many SDGs. Adapting to new
challenges and articulating for sustainability in the era of SDGs, the policy empowers
the preservation of the environment, nature and biodiversity in rural and agricultural
areas. A study was conducted in Slovenia, a small EU country, to determine whether
this policy has managed to maintain a balance between agriculture needs (SDG 1:
S. Y. Teh and H. L. Koh
pathways of GHG emissions and land use patterns (IPCC 2014). Predicted SLR
induced by climate change will increase salt water intrusion in coastal aquifers.
Against this background, Wassef and Schüttrumpf (2016) examine the impact of
the expected changes in SLR in the Mediterranean Sea on groundwater salinity.
Their simulations indicate that predicted SLR alone, without increase in groundwater extraction, could destroy parts of the protective offshore sand belt, which is
already decimated by reduced sediment flows interrupted by the construction of dams
in the Nile. Without this sand belt, recreational tourism and beach facilities will be
inundated, and water quality in coastal fresh water lagoons will be adversely altered.
This will vastly reduce the ecological services provided by the coastal seas and will
have grave impacts on residents’ livelihoods. Increase in groundwater extraction
rates to accommodate population growth will further intensify salt intrusion. Where
the groundwater extraction rates are low, SLR is the dominant factor driving groundwater salinization. On the other hand, where groundwater extraction rates are high,
groundwater extractions become the dominant factor in driving groundwater salinization (Wassef and Schüttrumpf 2016). High groundwater extractions coupled with
high SLR will spell disaster. Balancing groundwater extraction against predicted
SLR is a daunting task requiring a coordination of a multitude of disciplines across
different spatial and temporal scales. This is where STEM is critically useful.
In addition to salinity intrusion and depletion in groundwater due to accelerated
extractions, a variety of pollution sources consisting of agricultural fertilizers, pesticides and industrial and domestic wastes, have imposed further constraints to the
availability of fresh water for human life and ecosystem vitality. Understanding the
extent of groundwater contamination and its causes are critical measures in managing
groundwater availability and contamination. Towards achieving this goal, Narany
et al. (2017) compiled a series of nitrate concentrations over a period of 25 year
(from 1989 to 2014) to study the impact of land use changes including agriculture
on the quality of groundwater in Northern Kelantan, Malaysia, where large scale
deforestation in recent decades has occurred. The integration of time series analysis
and geospatial modelling revealed that nitrate (NO 3 –N) concentrations have significantly increased by 8.1 and 3.9% annually in agricultural and residential wells water
respectively, over the 25 years. In 1989, wells with nitrate concentrations exceeding
10 mg/L covered only 1% of the total area studied. However, by 2014 that percentage
has increased sharply to 48% of the total area, casting grave concern for the future
of groundwater resources in Kelantan. This grave scenario is repeated elsewhere in
many countries, including China and Europe.
Over in Europe, fifty years after its adoption, the European Common Agricultural
Policy continues to support its primary goals of providing quality food at affordable
prices (SDG 2: no hunger) and a decent standard of living for farmers (SDG 1:
no poverty), while maintaining environmental health and ecosystem vitality (SDG
15: healthy life on land), simultaneously fulfilling many SDGs. Adapting to new
challenges and articulating for sustainability in the era of SDGs, the policy empowers
the preservation of the environment, nature and biodiversity in rural and agricultural
areas. A study was conducted in Slovenia, a small EU country, to determine whether
this policy has managed to maintain a balance between agriculture needs (SDG 1: