This paper estimates China's water utilization efficiency using the directional distance function to take into account the environmental degradation affecting the economy. We further analyze the spatial correlation and the factors influencing the utilization efficiency using spatial panel data models. The results show that water utilization efficiency in China differs between provinces and regions. For example, water utilization efficiency in the eastern coastal provinces is significantly higher than that of inland provinces. The pattern of spatial auto-correlation Moran's I index presents significant spatial auto-correlation and evident cluster tendencies in China's inter-provincial water utilization. Factors that contribute to water utilization efficiency include economic development, technological progress, and economic openness. Negative factors affecting water utilization efficiency arise from industrial structure, government interference, and water resources endowment. In addition, the price of water resources is insignificant. The improvement of water utilization efficiency is essential to sustainable economic development. To raise the utilization efficiency of water resources, China should focus on transforming its industrial restructure, advancing technological development, enhancing economic openness, and encouraging entrepreneurial innovations. Moreover, establishing a mechanism to encourage water conservation and reduce wastewater pollution will further increase water utilization efficiency.
While urbanization brings economic and social benefits, it also causes water pollution and other environmental ecological problems. This paper provides a theoretical framework to quantitatively analyze the dynamic relationship between water resource utilization and the process of urbanization. Using data from Jiangsu province, we first construct indices to evaluate urbanization and water resource utilization. We then adopt an entropy model to examine the correlation between urbanization and water resource utilization. In addition, we introduce a dynamic coupling model to analyze and predict the coupling degree between urbanization and water resource utilization. Our analyses show that pairing with rising urbanization during 2002-2014, the overall index of water resource utilization in Jiangsu province has experienced a "decline -rise-decline" trend. Specifically, after the index of water resource utilization reached its lowest point in 2004, it gradually began to rise. Water resource utilization reached its highest value in 2010. The coupling degree between urbanization and water resource utilization was relatively low in 2002 and 2003 varying between −90 • and 0 • . It has been rising since then. Out-of-sample forecasts indicate that the coupling degree will reach its highest value of 74.799 • in 2016, then will start to gradually decline. Jiangsu province was chosen as our studied area because it is one of the selected pilot provinces for China's economic reform and social development. The analysis of the relationship between provincial water resource utilization and urbanization is essential to the understanding of the dynamic relationship between these two systems. It also serves as an important input for developing national policies for sustainable urbanization and water resource management.
Serving as an effective tool for research on regional sustainable development, adaptive management has become the subject of global climate change and environmental economic research nowadays. Based on the perspective of the adaptability of the composite system, this article decomposes the adaptability into four aspects: sensibility, stability, compatibility and sustainability. We use the pressure-state-impact-response (PSIR) model to construct a Comprehensive Index Evaluation System for the adaptability of the Water-Energy-Food System in the Yangtze River Delta from 2010 to 2019. Our analyses show that: Firstly, the adaptability of the Water-Energy-Food System in the Yangtze River Delta fluctuates greatly, with the lowest value being only 33.35% of the highest value. Secondly, while sensibility shows an “M-shaped” development trend, the stability, sustainability and compatibility of the Water-Energy-Food System in the Yangtze River Delta changes simultaneously, showing a “U-shaped” development trend as a whole. Thirdly, there exists significant spatial differences in the adaptability of the Water-Energy-Food System in the Yangtze River Delta. Zhejiang Province has the highest level of system adaptability, while Anhui Province has the lowest. Based on that, we recommend to strengthen the coordinated management of various departments and natural resources in the Yangtze River Delta and implement strict red lines for resource utilization and environmental protection.
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