Multi-regional input-output and linkage analysis for water-PM2.5 nexus

Abstract

Water shortage and air pollution are two major threatens to the rapid processes of urbanization and industrialization, whereas the current single-minded environmental management might ignore the hidden correlations between resources and emissions, and potentially lead to unintended effects. In order to bridge this gap, this study attempts to investigate the nexus between water and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), termed water-PM2.5 nexus, via Environmentally-Extended Multi-Regional Input-Output model, combining with Integrated Nexus Strength metric and linkage analysis. The basic water-PM2.5 coupling flows are quantified by Environmentally-Extended Multi-Regional Input-Output model, and the Integrated Nexus Strength metric is proposed to examine all economic sectors to reveal dominant water-PM2.5 nexus nodes. Then the major water-PM2.5 nexus sectors are evaluated through linkage analysis to characterize their consuming or supplying behaviors in water-PM2.5 nexus. Finally, net embodied water and PM2.5 flows among these water-PM2.5 nexus nodes are quantified to reveal crucial industrial chains. Using Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area of China as a case study, results show that energy supply sectors, metal-related sectors, agricultural sectors, and services sectors are major water-PM2.5 nexus nodes. Sectors of “Electricity and Heating Power Production and Supply” are dominant suppliers of embodied PM2.5 emissions and water flows, while sectors of “Metal Production” and “Residential Service” are the major consumers. More than 70% of the net embodied PM2.5 flows and around 20% of net embodied water flows lie in the industrial chains correlated with the sectors of “Smelting and Pressing of Metals ” and “Electricity and Heating Power Production and Supply” in Hebei province. This study provides a framework for the investigation of water-PM2.5 nexus considering the economic and environmental correlations between sectors in the socio-economic systems, and enables the collaborative management of water utilization and PM2.5 emission as well as facilitates the enaction of multi-tasking environmental policies.