Temporal dynamics, driving factor and mutual relationship analysis for the holistic virtual water trade network in China (2002–2017)

Abstract

The virtual water trade network that comes along with commodities trade has become increasingly critical for achieving sustainable development goals in the hydropenic and populous China. However, its holistic patterns, temporal dynamic and interrelation associated with complex interactions among regions and sectors have rarely been systematically characterized. Here, we constructed a transboundary and intersectoral virtual water trade network for China and applied MRIO model with newly developed time-series datasets (2002–2017) that derived from an internally consistent approach to capture its panorama, dynamic characteristics, driving factors and mutual relationship. Results show that China's total virtual water embodied in trade has increased by approximately 64% during the studied period primarily due to the rapid increasing demand; whilst the figure has decreased by nearly 4% in 2012–2017 contributed by the optimization of production structure and improvement of water use efficiency. The most prominent strand by sector was always the flow from Agriculture to Food, and the remarkable growth was observed in Construction resulting from their enhancive demands. Furthermore, the flows from Xinjiang and Heilongjiang to the Yangtze River Delta gradually dominated, and the three largest urban agglomerations have absorbed extensive virtual water for meeting their demands along with their vast population and diversified consumptions. The relationship in sectoral networks tended to be more mutual benefit, while in regional networks cooperative and competitive relationships increase simultaneously. Finally, we proposed some policy suggestions to take advantages of virtual water theory.