Water-energy-food(WEF) nexus efficiency of dynamic slack-based measure in 31 provinces and regions in China

Abstract

In recent years, China's rapid economic growth has positioned it as the world's second-largest economy by 2011. Despite emphasizing energy efficiency and environmental protection since the 1990s, China still grapples with resource wastage and environmental pollution in its development. Consequently, controlling negative environmental impacts is an important issue in achieving balanced development in China, as well as in other economies around the world. This study collected crucial Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEF Nexus) variables from 31 Chinese provinces and regions between 2016 and 2020. It utilized the Dynamic Slack-Based Measure (DSBM) model to assess the overall WEF Nexus efficiency across these provinces and regions. Empirical results show: a) After incorporating pollutant emissions, the WEF Nexus total efficiency declined from 0.5703 to 0.5124, indicating the impact of pollutant emissions on overall efficiency. This suggests a potential need for enhanced efforts across Chinese provinces to reduce emissions. b) Among the studied provinces and regions, ten, including Beijing, Guangdong, Hainan, and Jiangsu, exhibited a WEF Nexus total efficiency value of 1, while Hebei, Guangxi Zhuang, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions showcased the poorest overall efficiency. c) China's population growth has created pressure on WEF Nexus resource and environmental configurations, leading to substantial pollutant generation alongside the pursuit of rapid GDP growth, affecting living environments. This study emphasizes crucial variables related to WEF Nexus and environmental pollution in urban development. It not only aids decision-makers in effectively allocating input and output resources for sustainable resilient urban planning but also highlights the impact of environmental pollution on the overall efficiency of WEF Nexus.