Regional water–energy–food nexus in China based on multiregional input–output analysis

Abstract

Water and energy are main inputs for the food production and supply, a lot of water is used for energy production and a huge amount of energy is used for water system. To study the water–energy–food linkage in economic system within China, we built the water–energy–food nexus accounting framework based on multiregional input–output analysis. The water use for different energy and food types, energy consumption for all stages of water use and different kinds of food production for each region were inventoried. Then the direct and indirect energy and water embodied in monetary flows among regions were calculated via multiregional input–output analysis to analyse embodied energy, water and their related flows. Then we identified the critical regions and flows in water–energy–food nexus system for nexus management. The primary results showed that megacities are the crucial regions for nexus management, among which Shanghai, Hainan and Tianjin are crucial regions for energy management with high hybrid embodied energy consumption, and Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Zhejiang are crucial regions for water management with high hybrid embodied water consumption. The main export–import pairs for hybrid embodied energy are Shandong–Tianjin, Jiangsu–Shanghai, Shandong–Shanghai and Shandong–Beijing, which should be critical pathways for nexus management. And main export–import pairs for hybrid embodied water are Shandong–Tianjin, Shandong–Shanghai, Shandong–Zhejiang, Henan–Guangdong, Henan–Zhejiang and Hebei–Beijing. By identifying the critical nodes and flows in water–energy–food nexus system, this study aims to investigate regional interactions as for water, energy and food and provide a better way for regional water, energy and food coordinated management.