Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria.
CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Sci Total Environ. 2019 Dec 20;697:134017. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134017. Epub 2019 Aug 22.
Depletion of natural resources needs quantification and efficiency analysis of the use of resources to improve sustainability. This paper evaluates the efficiency of Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries in terms of Water-Energy-Land-Food (WELF-Nexus) to ensure sustainability and environmental viability for both present and future generations. An input-output index system is built at a transnational level. Composite and intrinsic indicators are introduced to incorporate the interconnections and tradeoffs between sectors of the nexus and outcomes of the nexus. The nonparametric benchmarking order-α model, resulting from Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to estimate WELF-Nexus efficiency of each country, and to alleviate the intricacies of using composite and intrinsic indicators. To ensure resource generativity, an output target setting model that accommodates predefined input is proposed. Results show variation in performance among OECD members, with an annual average efficiency score of 68%, 69% and 78% in 2007, 2012, and 2016. Sensitivity analysis was performed to measure the effect of drought on WELF efficiency, a decrease of about 13% on average WELF efficiency was observed. Outputs improvement was recommended for each country: Lithuania (14%), Mexico (10%) and 11% for Hungary, Latvia, and Turkey due to their high inefficiency. The study provides a robust framework for policy making and shows that a win-win strategy for the nexus must be implemented to achieve WELF-Nexus efficiency, given the trade-offs within its sectors. Furthermore, it highlights that innovative-driven policies will enhance WELF-Nexus efficiency and sustainability.
自然资源的消耗需要量化和资源利用效率分析，以提高可持续性。本文旨在评估经济合作与发展组织（OECD）国家在水-能源-土地-粮食（WELF-Nexus）方面的效率，以确保当代和后代的可持续性和环境可行性。在跨国层面上构建了投入产出指标体系。引入综合和内在指标，以纳入 Nexus 各部门之间的相互关系和权衡以及 Nexus 的结果。使用来自数据包络分析（DEA）的非参数基准排序-α模型来估计每个国家的 WELF-Nexus 效率，并缓解使用综合和内在指标的复杂性。为了确保资源的再生能力，提出了一个输出目标设定模型，该模型可以容纳预定义的输入。结果表明，OECD 成员国之间的绩效存在差异，2007 年、2012 年和 2016 年的平均效率得分分别为 68%、69%和 78%。进行了敏感性分析以衡量干旱对 WELF 效率的影响，发现平均 WELF 效率下降了约 13%。建议每个国家都提高产出：立陶宛（14%）、墨西哥（10%）以及匈牙利、拉脱维亚和土耳其的效率提高 11%，因为它们的效率非常低。该研究为政策制定提供了一个稳健的框架，并表明鉴于其部门内部的权衡，必须实施双赢策略来实现 WELF-Nexus 效率。此外，它还强调了创新驱动政策将提高 WELF-Nexus 的效率和可持续性。
