Cai Beiming, Guo Mo
Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Earth System Observation and Modeling, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China; Henan Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation (Ecological Protection and Rural Revitalization Along the Yellow River), China.
The New Type Key Think Tank of Zhejiang Province "China Research Institute of Regulation and Public Policy", China Institute of Regulation Research, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, China.
J Environ Manage. 2023 May 1;333:117423. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117423. Epub 2023 Feb 7.
Previous studies have explored virtual water flows due to interprovincial trade within China as well as related impacts on both regional quantity- and quality-related water scarcity aspects. However, the driving forces behind changes in these impacts remain unknown, especially the quality-related water scarcity. Exploring these driving forces can provide targeted measures to mitigate the negative impact of trade on these two types of water scarcity issues. In this study, blue and grey water footprints have been calculated under the consideration of interregional trade between provinces within China and those attributed to international exports from 2007 to 2015. This calculation was based on multi-regional input output model (MRIO). Moreover, the drivers of changes in blue and grey water footprints due to trade have been explored through structural decomposition analysis. The results showed that blue and grey water footprint increased and then slightly decreased from 2007 to 2015 in China. At the same time, interregional trade made an increasing contribution to the blue and grey water footprint, and the proportion increased from 28.8% to 35.0% and from 22.4% to 28.6%, respectively, from 2007 to 2015. The roles of importers and exporters regarding the blue and grey water footprint driven by interprovincial trade within China have changed little, and the quantity- and quality-related water scarcity issues of the main exporters have been intensified by interprovincial trade. A reduction in the water footprint intensity yielded the largest contribution to curb the increase in blue and grey water footprint driven by interprovincial trade. Our study showed that an improvement in efficiency of water use from both quantity and quality perspectives is the key to accomplish sustainable water use in China, especially considering the impact of trade on regional quantity- and quality-related water scarcity issues.
以往的研究探讨了中国省际贸易产生的虚拟水流动及其对区域水量和水质相关水资源短缺问题的影响。然而，这些影响变化背后的驱动因素仍然未知，尤其是与水质相关的水资源短缺问题。探究这些驱动因素可以提供针对性措施，以减轻贸易对这两类水资源短缺问题的负面影响。在本研究中，基于多区域投入产出模型（MRIO），计算了2007年至2015年中国各省之间的区域贸易以及国际出口所产生的蓝水足迹和灰水足迹。此外，通过结构分解分析探究了贸易导致的蓝水足迹和灰水足迹变化的驱动因素。结果表明，2007年至2015年中国的蓝水足迹和灰水足迹先增加后略有下降。与此同时，区域贸易对蓝水足迹和灰水足迹的贡献不断增加，其占比分别从2007年的28.8%增至2015年的35.0%，以及从22.4%增至28.6%。在中国省际贸易驱动的蓝水足迹和灰水足迹方面，进口商和出口商的作用变化不大，且省际贸易加剧了主要出口省份的水量和水质相关水资源短缺问题。水足迹强度的降低对抑制省际贸易驱动的蓝水足迹和灰水足迹增加贡献最大。我们的研究表明，从水量和水质角度提高用水效率是中国实现可持续用水的关键，特别是考虑到贸易对区域水量和水质相关水资源短缺问题的影响。
