Abstract
From a water footprint perspective, this paper adopts Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the influencing factor to construct a lexicographical optimization framework for optimizing water resources allocation under equity and efficiency considerations. This approach consists of a lexicographic allocation of water footprints (LAWF) model and an input-output capacity of water footprints (IOWF) model. The proposed methodology is then applied to allocate water resources in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) by employing the 2013 cross-sectional data in the area. The results show that: (1) The LAWF scheme signifies reductions in water footprints in each of the YREB administrative units, thereby significantly strengthening their IOWFs. (2) IOWFs are affected by industrial attributes and natural endowments, and the impact tends to vary across different industries and regions. (3) Policy suggestions are proposed to effectively enhance the IOWFs of the weakest industries across the three YREB regions to exploit their natural endowments.
Highlights
Using water resources in a sustainable way and improving water use efficiency are two integral aspects of alleviating environmental and ecological stresses and enhancing human welfare
Since the lexicographic algorithm can obtain the Pareto-optimal solution with equity considerations, we propose an lexicographic allocation of water footprints (LAWF) model to allocate water footprints with an aim to account for equity and efficiency
We examine different factors that affect the input-output capacity of water footprints (IOWF) of the LAWF scheme at the industrial and regional level will further examine different factors that affect the IOWFs of the LAWF scheme at the industrial and in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB)
Summary
Using water resources in a sustainable way and improving water use efficiency are two integral aspects of alleviating environmental and ecological stresses and enhancing human welfare. Water consumption per 10,000 USD of GDP in the YREB is as high as 1.78 times the world average [2], signifying that water use efficiency in the YREB is far below the world average. The general norm is to classify Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou as the upstream; Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi as the midstream; Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai as the upstream; Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi as the midstream; Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and as the downstream These three regions are highlighted in different colors on the map
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
