Interregional Water-carbon Nexus Control Pathwayin Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei

Abstract

Water scarcity and heavy carbon emission are two main environmental problems in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. Water resources are consumed in inter-regional trade while carbon emissions are generated and transferred across various industrial sectors and even regions via supply chains. In this study, we employ the Multi-regional Input-output (MRIO) approach to model both water and carbon flows embodied in the inter-regional system. The network control analysis (NCA) originated from ecological network analysis is combined with MRIO to determine major control pathways across the concerned regions. As a result, key control pathways via the specific sectors are identified. The results show that, considering water consumption, prominent water control pathways are mainly located in Hebei province, of which, the top one is Hebei’s agriculture sector controlling its light manufacturing sector with 1.13×103 million m3, followed by Hebei’s Heavy Manufacturing sector controlling its Construction sector with 5.38×102 million m3. In Beijing and Tianjin, local Heavy Manufacturing sector and Construction sector are considered as notable control pathways. On the other hand, regarding carbon emissions, the most significant control pathway is Heavy Manufacturing sector controlling construction sector in Hebei. Also, Electricity and water supply sector in Hebei owns several prominent control pathways with Construction sector, Manufacturing sector and Service sector. In Beijing and Tianjin, major control pathways are Electricity sector controlling Service sector and Manufacturing sector controlling Construction sector. This study may provide a framework to identify control pathways on water consumption and carbon emission and formulate polices with clear control objectives and paths for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.