The Impact of Virtual Water on Sustainable Development in Gansu Province

Abstract

The concept of virtual water, as a new approach for addressing water shortage and safety issues, can be applied to support sustainable development in water-scarce regions. Using the input-output method, the direct and the complete water use coefficients of industries categorized as primary, secondary, or tertiary, and the spatial flow patterns of the inter-provincial trade in the Gansu province region of China, were explored. The results show that in 2007, 2010, and 2012 the direct and complete water use coefficients of the primary industries were the greatest among the three industry categories, with direct water use coefficients of 1545.58, 882.28, and 762.16, respectively, and complete water use coefficients of 1692.22, 1005.38, and 873.44, respectively; whereas, the direct and complete water use coefficient values of the tertiary industry category were the lowest, with direct water use coefficients of 16.65, 7.74, and 66.89 for 2007, 2010, and 2012, respectively, and complete water use coefficients of 65.46, 66.89, and 72.81 for 2007, 2010, and 2012, respectively. In addition, study results suggest that the volume of virtual water supplied to Gasnu province’s local industries has decreased annually, while virtual water exports from the province have increased annually, with the primary industry accounting for 95% of virtual water output. Overall, the virtual water of Gansu province in 2010 showed a net output trend, with a total output of 0.506 billion m3, while in 2007 and 2012 it showed a net input trend with a total input of 0.104 and 1.235 billion m3, respectively. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Ningxia and other water-scarce areas were the main input, or import source for Gansu’s virtual water; during the years studied, these provinces imported more than 50 million m3 individually. Based on these results, it is clear that under the current structure, virtual water is mainly exported to the well-developed coastal areas and their adjacent provinces or other water-abundant regions. Therefore, Gansu province should (1) adjust the industrial structure and develop water-saving and high-tech industries; (2) adjust the current trade pattern to reduce virtual water output while increasing its input to achieve balanced economic development and water resource security.

Driving Factors and Future Prediction of Land Use and Cover Change Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data by the LCM Model: A Case Study from Gansu Province, China

“…The LUCC in arid and semiarid region can not only affect local socioeconomic development and environment protection, but also influence global environmental changes [36]. Gansu Province is a typical arid and semiarid area constrained by a fragile ecological environment and belonging to the most impoverished area in China [37]. The objective of this study was to examine the LUCCs over the past 40 years, identify their dominant factors and predict future change in 2030, as predicted by LCM, taking Gansu Province, China as a case study example.…”

The Paradox of the Virtual Water Trade Balance in the Mediterranean Region

“…A handful of scholars apply input-output modelling for water studies as it unveils both direct and indirect consumption patterns and the economic model can be easily extended to account for natural resources as discussed above [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Relevant literature so far denotes that the input-output model is the most appropriate to calculate water consumption patterns with respect to the economic process (see Zhao et al (2009) for a further discussion) [39].…”

“…This paradox is common phenomenon in the related literature though not defined, and agriculture is the sector that consumes the largest amounts of water globally. Wang et al (2020) report that Gansu province, a water-scare region in China, is net exporter of virtual water and supplies water-abundant areas instead of importing water-intensive products [16]. Similarly, Qasemipour et al (2020) reveal imbalances in virtual water trade among different regions of Iran with water-abundant areas importing rather than exporting water-intensive products, while water-deprived regions demonstrate opposite results [15].…”

Sustainable Environmental Solutions

“…Finally, the concept of virtual water, as a new approach to addressing water shortage and safety issues, can help support sustainable development in water-scarce regions [13].…”