Decoupling Analysis of Water Footprint and Economic Growth

A Case Study of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region from 2004 to 2017

Bibliographic Data

ID15469868
AuthorsYang Kong (0000-0001-8052-7045, Hohai University), Weijun He (0000-0003-2949-4270, China Three Gorges University, corresponding author), Liang Yuan (0000-0002-4716-7073, China Three Gorges University, corresponding author), Juqin Shen (Hohai University), Min An (0000-0002-1069-7492, China Three Gorges University), Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu (0000-0003-2932-4626, China Three Gorges University), Xin Gao (0000-0002-0937-6288, Hohai University), Zhaofang Zhang (0009-0002-0417-3825, China Three Gorges University), Fuhua Sun (0000-0003-3215-9836, Hohai University), Zhongchi Wan (China Three Gorges University)
Year2019
Volume16
Issue23
Pages4873-4873
Publication date2019-12-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph16234873
PMID31816978
OpenAlexW2993741513
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited36

The Beijing-Tianji-Hebei region (BTHR) is economically developed and densely populated, but its water resources are extremely scarce. A clear understanding of the decoupling relationship between water footprint and economic growth is conducive to facilitating and realizing the coordinated development of water resources and economic growth in this region. This study calculated the water footprint and other related indicators of BTHR from 2004 to 2017, and objectively evaluated the utilization of water resources in the region. Then, logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) method was applied to study the driving factors that resulted in the change of water footprint and their respective effects. Finally, Tapio decoupling model was used to research the decoupling relationships between water footprint and economic growth, and between the driving factors of water footprint and economic growth. There are three main results in this research. (1) The water utilization efficiency in BTHR continues to improve, and the water footprint shows a gradually increasing trend during the research period, among which the agricultural water footprint accounts for a relatively high proportion. (2) The change of water footprint can be attributed to efficiency effect, economic effect, and population effect. Furthermore, efficiency effect is the decisive factor of water footprint reduction and economic effect is the main factor of water footprint increase, while population effect plays a weak role in promoting the increase in water footprint. (3) The decoupling status between water footprint and economic growth show a weak decoupling in most years, while the status between water footprint intensity and economic growth always remains strong decoupling. Moreover, population size and economic growth always show an expansive coupling state. In sum, it is advisable for policy makers to improve water utilization efficiency, especially agricultural irrigation efficiency, to raise residents' awareness of water conservation, and increase the import of water-intensive products, so as to alleviate water shortage and realize the coordinated development of water resources and economic growth in BTHR

Beijing · China · Decoupling (probability · Divisia index · Economics · Efficient energy use · Energy intensity · Environmental health · Footprint · Geography · Natural resource economics · Population · Water resource management · Water resources · Water use · Engineering · Environmental Impact and Sustainability · Environmental Science · Water Resources and Sustainability · Water resources management and optimization · Environmental Engineering

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access