Exposure of urban food-energy-water (FEW) supply chains to water scarcity in China

Meeting the basic needs of urban residents for food, energy, and water (FEW) resources is a national security concern for China. FEW systems are tightly interconnected, with food and energy production heavily reliant on water resources. Urban areas face local water scarcity challenges in their production of agri-food and energy commodities, as well as indirect exposure to water scarcity through their supply chains. In this study, we evaluate the water scarcity exposure of municipal districts in China, through both their local production and supply chain receipts of food and energy resources. To do this, we use an environmentally-extended multi-region input output (EE-MRIO) model combined with government statistics on production and water use. We use location quotient methods to disaggregate province-level MRIO information on energy and food fluxes to urban areas in China. Urban areas in northern China exhibit more severe local and supply chain water scarcity than do cities in southern China. Supply chains expose southern cities to water scarcity, particularly through agriculture. Agriculture exposes the domestic supply chain to water scarcity more than any other economic sector in China. This research highlights the importance of considering supply chain water risk in goods that are critical for urban consumers.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Junren

Contributors dc:contributor

• Konar, Megan

• Food-energy-water nexus
• Water scarcity
• Urbanization
• MRIO

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright2020 Junren Wang

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108730

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/108730