A three-stage hybrid model investigating regional evaluation, pattern analysis and obstruction factor analysis for water resource spatial equilibrium in China. (10th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bian, Dehui; Yang, Xiaohua; Wu, Feifei; Babuna, Pius; Luo, Yukun; Wang, Bo; Chen, Yajing
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 331(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01-10
• Subjects: Water resource spatial equilibrium -- Game theory combination weighting -- State-space analysis -- Pattern analysis -- Obstruction factor analysis; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129940
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: The natural distributions of water resources and the spatial positions of the human activities that demand water for production and society are often different, which has globally restricted socioeconomic development, human survival, and ecosystem sustainability. The research significance of water resource spatial equilibrium (WRSE) is to break the limitation of water resources for economic, social and ecological environment development to the greatest extent. To objectively evaluate WRSE, a three-stage hybrid model based on the water-social-economic-natural compound ecosystem (W-SENCE) framework was established in this research. This model includes regional evaluation, pattern analysis and obstruction factor analysis to investigate WRSE quantitatively. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed three-stage hybrid model, empirical research on 31 provincial administrative regions in China was conducted. The results show that: 1) The overall state of water resource spatial equilibrium of China in 2019 is at a poor level with a value of 0.3432 (the result is within the range of 0–1); 2) To improve WRSE, these 8 provinces including Jilin, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Chongqing, Qinghai and Yunnan need to formulate policies that focus on both water resource endowment and water resource matching; 3) Eco-environment water consumption in most surveyed provinces accounts for a very small proportion of total water consumption, and 24 out of the 31 provinces can improve WRSE efficiently by increasing eco-environment water consumption appropriately. The proposed three-stage hybrid model provides a novel perspective as well as an important reference for further research on WRSE. Furthermore, the results of this research are essential for decision makers to develop tailored strategies to improve WRSE of China. Graphical abstract: Image 1