Tracing energy-water-greenhouse gas nexus in national supply chains: China 2017. (10th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Long, Jun; Wu, Xiaofang; Yang, Qing; Chen, Guoqian; Liu, Zhaohui; Huang, Junling; Ba, Shusong
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 352(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-10
• Subjects: Energy-water-greenhouse gas nexus -- Environmentally-extended input-output -- Structural path analysis -- Embodied intensity -- National supply chains -- China Economy 2017; 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.2022.131586
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: The nexus of energy, water and greenhouse gas plays a vital role in resource management and response to climate change for all nations. Actions in China is decisive. In this study, the environmentally-extended input-output model and structural path analysis are combined to analyze the energy-water-greenhouse gas nexus for China 2017. The sectors of Mining and washing of coal, Production and distribution of water, Mining and washing of coal are revealed to show the highest embodied energy consumption intensity, embodied water consumption intensity, and embodied greenhouse gas emission intensity, respectively. Among all 149 sectors, some sectors are identified to be more sensitive than others: Farming, Production and supply of electricity and steam are more energy-water-greenhouse gas sensitive, and Mining and washing of coal, Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas are more energy-greenhouse gas sensitive, and Animal husbandry, Manufacture of pharmaceutical products are more water-greenhouse gas sensitive. Structural path analysis shows that the top 30 supply chain paths contribute to 34.99% of energy consumption, to 39.18% of water consumption, and to 40.18% of greenhouse gas emissions. By studying the main paths, critical sectors of the energy-water-greenhouse gas nexus are further identified as Farming, Mining and washing of coal, Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas, Production and supply of electricity and steam, Construction of buildings, Civil engineering . Exploring the energy-water-greenhouse gas nexus of 149 sectors could help to lock the key nodes of China's resource management and greenhouse gas emission control in the supply chains. Highlights: Embodied energy, water, and GHG accounting is conducted for China 2017. China's energy-water-GHG nexus is explored across 149 economic sectors. Key sectors and supply chain paths are anchored in the energy-water-GHG nexus. Critical sectors and paths contribute significantly to the embodied footprint.