Search Results (209)

Spatially explicit socioeconomic data are critical for regional analysis, yet they remain scarce at subnational scales in many African contexts. This study presents a transparent and reproducible open-data framework to generate high-resolution gridded Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and derived socioeconomic and energy indicators. The approach combines gridded population and Night-Time Light (NTL) through the LitPop method to downscale provincial GDP to 1 km resolution for the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (IUWMA) in South Africa. The resulting GDP dataset is subsequently used as a spatial proxy to disaggregate compensation of employees, gross capital formation, fixed capital stock, net exports, gross operational surplus and sectoral Total Final Energy Consumption (TFEC). Results show strong consistency with official provincial GDP totals, with deviations ±0.4% after 2017. In 2024, LitPop allocated 4.26 billion constant 2015 USD to the IUWMA, equivalent to 16% of Mpumalanga’s GDP, compared with 47.3% under area-based allocation and 51.3% under population-based allocation. These differences reveal the strong influence of spatially concentrated industrial and energy-intensive activity. The workflow provides a scalable and replicable solution to generate coherent gridded socioeconomic datasets for WEF Nexus modelling, although estimates remain proxy-based and sensitive to NTL-related biases, particularly the overrepresentation of highly illuminated industrial assets and the underrepresentation of less luminous activities. Full article

The water–energy–food (WEF) system acts as a critical nexus of social–ecological systems. However, rapid urbanization has intensified the regional imbalance in the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs). Clarifying the spatiotemporal matching of ecosystem services supply and demand (ESSD) within the WEF framework and revealing the driving mechanisms behind such imbalances are essential to formulating reasonable zoning schemes and targeted optimization strategies for the coordinated development of the regional WEF system. Taking Zhejiang Province as a case study, this research uses water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), and grain production (GP) to characterize the WEF nexus system. It uses the InVEST model to assess WY and CS, applies spatial allocation methods to characterize GP, and integrates socioeconomic data to quantify the demand for the above three ESs. All indicators were standardized and integrated with equal weights to further clarify the comprehensive levels of ESSD. By integrating the Geodetector and K-Means clustering methods, the study analyzes the supply–demand matching of ecosystem services and its driving mechanisms in Zhejiang Province during this period, thereby exploring ecological management zoning and optimization strategies within the WEF system. The study findings indicate that: (1) From the supply perspective, Zhejiang Province’s WY services demonstrate a trend of elevated activity in the southwest and diminished presence in the northeast; high values for CS services are predominantly found in the vegetation-rich areas of the northwest, while high values for GP services are clustered in the northern Zhejiang Plain; from the demand perspective, high values for all three ESs in Zhejiang Province are primarily located in economically active, densely populated urban areas. (2) The correlation between ESSD within Zhejiang Province’s WEF system exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity and is driven by the combined effects of natural and socioeconomic factors, with the interaction between these two factors often producing a synergistic effect. Specifically, annual average precipitation and population density are the dominant factors influencing WY services, NDVI and human footprint are the dominant factors influencing CS services, and population density and GDP are the dominant factors influencing GP services. (3) From 2000 to 2020, the supply–demand ratio for comprehensive ESs in Zhejiang Province generally followed a pattern of being lower in the east and higher in the west. The supply–demand imbalance of ESs intensified in the core areas of eastern cities, whereas the western regions maintained a relatively sound supply–demand balance. (4) The study classifies the counties in Zhejiang Province into four ecological management zones—ecological stable zones, ecological conservation zones, ecological control zones, and ecological restoration zones—and explores differentiated approaches to optimizing these zones and implementing control strategies. Full article

To investigate the interaction between artificial intelligence development (AID) and water–energy–food system technical efficiency (WEF-TE), panel data from 264 cities in China from 2013 to 2023 were utilized, and WEF-TE in the study areas was estimated using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Subsequently, the Error Correction Model (ECM) and a random forest model were adopted for empirically examining the adjustment and driving mechanisms of AID on WEF-TE from three dimensions, namely enterprise scale, application level, and workforce literacy. The results indicate the following: (1) China’s WEF-TE generally shows an increasing trend; however, clear differences remain between high-value and low-value regions, and the deviation in lagging areas can reach 0.507. Meanwhile, the Yellow River Basin, which is the core region of China’s WEF system, remains below the national average in the process of technical efficiency optimization. (2) AID has a long-term equilibrium relationship with WEF-TE across the research dimensions and can effectively adjust technological inefficiencies in the short term, with adjustment coefficients ranging from 0.004 to 0.021 under different test rules. (3) In terms of enterprise scale and application level, the driving effect of AID on WEF-TE is relatively strong, with feature weights of 0.16 and 0.155, which are close to those of human capital input (0.172) and industrial structure rationalization (0.15). This study provides important reference value for constructing an interdisciplinary research framework that integrates WEF Nexus with AID. Full article

The transition toward a digital and knowledge-based economy has fundamentally transformed the drivers of labor productivity, raising important questions about its sustainability, inclusiveness, and long-term resilience. In this context, understanding the role of future-oriented competencies becomes essential for both economic performance and sustainable development. The aim of this article is to examine the relationship between selected indicators of digitalization and human capital and labor productivity, with particular reference to future-oriented competencies in the context of ongoing labor market transformation. The study relies on secondary analysis of data and reports published by international organizations and research institutions, particularly the World Economic Forum (WEF), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the OECD. The research combines content analysis, comparative analysis, and selected statistical methods, including correlation and regression techniques, supported by data triangulation. The results suggest that future-oriented competencies, especially digital, cognitive, and social skills, are strongly associated with higher levels of labor productivity. At the same time, productivity growth increasingly depends on the effective integration of technological advancement with human capabilities, which is critical for building resilient and inclusive economies. The study emphasizes the need to invest in competency development, encourage innovation-driven organizational cultures, and implement flexible work arrangements that support sustainable productivity, digital inclusion, and employee well-being. The development of future-oriented competencies may also help reduce structural inequalities and improve the adaptability of labor markets. In addition, the study contributes to the existing literature by linking labor productivity with future competencies within the broader context of digital transformation and sustainable development. Full article

Global climate change and rapid socio-economic development have increasingly exacerbated the imbalance between ecosystem service (ES) supply and demand. Taking the Pinglu Canal Economic Zone as a case study and employing a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus perspective, this study selected three key ESs—water yield, carbon sequestration, and food supply. The InVEST model, supply–demand index (SDI), Pearson correlation analysis, and four-quadrant model were integrated to systematically reveal the spatiotemporal patterns, correlation characteristics, and spatial matching of ES supply and demand from 2005 to 2020. Scale effects and appropriate management scales were clarified through municipal, county, and grid scale comparisons, and a comprehensive management zoning scheme was constructed using a “zoning–classification–grading” framework. The results show that water yield and food supply exhibited an overall increasing trend, while carbon sequestration supply remained stable. Demand for all three services showed continuous growth, with a spatial pattern of “high in the central area and low in the surrounding areas”, consistent with population and economic agglomerations. The county scale was the most effective at capturing local supply–demand characteristics. A “zoning–classification–grading” spatial governance system was constructed based on dominant functions, supply–demand status, and control priority. This study can provide a scientific basis for territorial spatial planning and integrated ecosystem management in the Pinglu Canal Economic Zone and similar regions. Full article

Rapid urbanization in plateau mountain regions exacerbates the tension between rigid resource demands and fragile ecological carrying capacities. Enhancing the resilience of the Water–Energy–Food (W–E–F) nexus is therefore essential for coping with external shocks. This study constructs a multidimensional resilience evaluation framework based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model, taking the Kunming Metropolitan Area—a typical plateau mountain region—as a case study. Integrating the TOPSIS model, Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model, and spatial autocorrelation analysis, we systematically assessed both individual subsystem and comprehensive W–E–F nexus resilience from 2005 to 2020. Results show that W–E–F nexus resilience generally improved from 2005 to 2020, but subsystem development remained uneven across space, with water resilience characterized by a peripheral-high/central-low pattern, energy resilience by a core-high/periphery-low structure, and food resilience by the strongest spatial heterogeneity and volatility. By 2020, the mean comprehensive resilience reached 0.67, with 58.3% of counties above the average, exhibiting significant spatial clustering. Based on resilience levels and limiting subsystems of 2020, the metropolitan area was classified into Enhancement, Adjustment, and Maintenance zones, comprising 6, 16, and 2 counties respectively, to support differentiated regional governance. This study provides a spatially explicit regulation paradigm to bolster urban resilience against resource constraints and climate uncertainty. Full article

Transboundary river basins (TRBs) sustain billions of livelihoods, yet they face enduring systemic challenges of cooperative water governance. Although collaborative governance models consistently yield acceptable outcomes, adversarial dynamics and zero-sum approaches continue to dominate transboundary water management. This systematic review synthesizes the peer-reviewed literature (2000–2026) to evaluate how four major governance dimensions—and the cross-cutting integration of the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus—shape the effectiveness of water diplomacy in international basins. Socio-economic analysis reveals that benefit-sharing arrangements grounded in joint investment outperform zero-sum volumetric allocation, though implementation remains constrained by institutional fragmentation and governance lock-in. Power relations analysis demonstrates that material, institutional, knowledge-based, and narrative-framing asymmetries systematically define the range of achievable agreements and the reliability of cooperative commitments, with case analysis from the Nile, Mekong, Tigris–Euphrates, and Central Asian basins showing that comparable hydrological conditions yield divergent diplomatic outcomes depending on how power is distributed. Stakeholder engagement findings indicate that formal participatory mechanisms frequently produce symbolic rather than substantive inclusion, particularly where structural imbalances limit procedural access. Gender analysis provides that women’s inclusion improves agricultural productivity, water-use efficiency, and adaptive capacity—functioning as a governance variable with measurable system-performance effects rather than solely an equity objective. The WEF nexus operates as the integrative mechanism binding these dimensions, reframing diplomacy from volumetric allocation toward adaptive benefit arrangements that coordinate interdependent services across sectors. This review concludes that effective transboundary governance emerges from the concurrent integration of socio-economic benefit-sharing, power-responsive institutions, meaningful stakeholder participation, gender equity, and nexus-based coordination in global TRBs. Full article

Water, energy, and food (WEF) are intricately linked through economic activities in the Yangtze River Delta, creating increasingly strong interdependencies. Tracking the consumption and transfer of the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus across regions and sectors is essential for the synergetic management of these critical resources. To characterize the WEF nexus from both consumption and production ends, this study develops a quantitative accounting framework based on a multi-regional input–output model. The proposed framework integrates direct WEF nexus consumption with embodied consumption driven by final demand and further investigates transfer patterns induced by intermediate inputs. The results indicate that the nexus-oriented consumption between water, energy, and food exceeds individual resource consumption. In particular, food-related water resource consumption in the Service sector in Jiangsu is 28 times that of individual water consumption. The embodied consumption of WEF accounts for 42%, 31%, and 47% of the total consumption, respectively. In particular, the embodied consumption of the WEF nexus caused by urban household consumption in Shanghai is much higher than that in other regions. Manufacturing is the resource-exporting sector, while Agriculture and Construction are the resource-importing sectors. Shanghai is a major resource-importing city, while Zhejiang is a typical resource-exporting city. The results also suggest that Jiangsu–Shanghai and Jiangsu–Anhui are regions with strong connections of WEF nexus transfer, while Agriculture–Manufacturing, Manufacturing–Construction, and Service–Construction are sectors with strong connections. These results highlight the complex interplay between water, energy, and food across the Yangtze River Delta. Given this, this study recommends enhancing resource regulation capabilities and paying attention to strongly correlated regions or sectors. Full article

This review paper synthesizes the application and evolution of environmentally extended input–output (EEIO) analysis in agricultural research, drawing on 647 publications (Scopus and Web of Science, 1978–2025) following the PRISMA method and using the Bibliometrix package in the R statistical computing environment. EEIO has become a leading method for assessing system-level environmental impacts by quantifying direct and indirect flows across complete supply chains. Bibliometric and thematic analyses reveal accelerated growth since 2015 and four principal domains of enquiry: emissions embodied in trade, water-resource management, energy and climate impacts, and the sustainability of agri-food supply chains. EEIO’s principal value lies in its capacity to support production- versus consumption-based accounting and to reveal intersectoral trade-offs that single-sector approaches overlook. However, standard EEIO frameworks remain constrained by fixed technical coefficients, coarse sectoral aggregation, and uncertainty in environmental extensions, which limit their capacity to resolve farm-scale processes, structural change, and feedbacks. To enhance analytical rigor and policy relevance, we advocate hybridization with life-cycle and farm-level data, development of higher-resolution multi-regional EEIO tables, incorporation of stochastic and scenario analyses, dynamic formulations to capture technological change, and adoption of open-data standards with transparent reporting. Advancing these priorities will improve comparability, reproducibility and the practical uptake of EEIO for evidence-based transitions in agricultural systems. Full article

The complexity of the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus demands a comprehensive framework for its implementation, particularly concerning place-based governance and sustainable transitions. In this work, the WEF Nexus is conceptualized through the lens of Socio-Technical Systems Transition Theory and its interconnections with geo-ecological system components, enabling its recognition as a place-based Socio-Technical–Ecological meta-System (STES). The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are introduced as landscape drivers of the WEF Nexus, as they acknowledge the crucial role of society, technology and ecological systems in its interconnected domains. A novel integrated methodology to develop the WEF Nexus as a STES transition is presented, encompassing literature review, qualitative analysis, conceptual mapping, and multi-stakeholder co-creation. This theoretical framework was empirically tested and improved across selected case studies on hydrological basins in Africa within the ONEPlanET Horizon Europe Project. Both leverageable subsystems and promising transitional innovation assets were identified. The transitional X-Curve assisted in the discussion in the empirical context of ONEPlanET to generalise the findings and the visual presentation of the identified pathways. The methodology that resulted is suitable for supporting a concrete exploration of systemic mapping, analysis, and planning towards a sustainable WEF Nexus in complex geographies, facilitated through multi-stakeholder engagement and co-creation. Full article

Water, energy, and food (WEF) are essential resources for sustaining urban development, yet their production and consumption generate substantial carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Carbon-reduction policies designed to curb these emissions have profound impacts on WEF systems by reshaping both the resource production and consumption patterns. This study employs system dynamics (SD) modeling to examine the mutual interactions between the WEF system and carbon emissions through scenario analysis for the period of 2016–2030. A WEF–carbon SD model comprising 76 variables is developed and calibrated using data from 2016 to 2023. The results show that under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, energy consumption continues to increase, while CO₂ emissions rise slightly from 87.2 million tonnes in 2023 to 88.7 million tonnes in 2030. In contrast, under the economic optimization scenario (e.g., through industrial structure adjustments), water consumption will be reduced by approximately 100 million cubic meters by 2030 compared with the BAU scenario. Energy consumption declines by about 7%, food production decreases slightly by 4%, and CO₂ emissions are reduced by 7.9%. Furthermore, land-use changes will enhance the carbon sequestration capacity by 12.67% in 2030, while exerting only marginal effects on CO₂ emissions (less than 1%) and water consumption. Overall, this study enriches the existing WEF–carbon nexus modeling and provides policy-relevant insights for Beijing to reduce carbon emissions from an integrated WEF perspective. Full article

The rapid transition to Industry 4.0/5.0 has widened the gap between graduates’ skill sets and labor market expectations; this study aimed to profile student competencies and align academic pathways with inclusive and adaptive AI-driven learning. A quantitative design was applied: an online survey of n = 126 students (engineering and economics, February–March 2025), expert evaluations from 5 faculty and 5 employers on a 5-point scale, framed by T-shaped competencies, 4C skills, and Bloom’s taxonomy. Analysis was performed in Python 3.11; future demand until 2035 was forecasted using ARIMA and Prophet models trained on publicly available labor market data (OECD, WEF, Eurostat 2015–2024); competency prioritization employed K-Means clustering and Random Forest models. Strengths included cooperation 4.2, critical thinking 3.9, communication 3.8, and creativity 3.6. Deficits were programming 2.8, project management 3.2, and solution development 3.2; employers rated programming at 2.5 (−0.7 compared to faculty). Forecast 2025–2035 showed growth in demand for programming +56% (3.2 → 5.0), data analytics +39% (3.6 → 5.0), project management +34% (3.2 → 4.3), digital literacy +30% (3.7 → 4.8), and critical thinking +15% (3.9 → 4.5). Clustering identified critical (programming, analytics, project management), supporting (creativity, communication, teamwork), and optional (narrow theoretical depth) competencies. Curriculum adjustment with practice-oriented modules, AI-enabled adaptive learning, and systematic university–employer feedback is essential; the proposed AI-supported profiling model is scalable and enhances inclusiveness. Full article

Wild edible fruits (WEFs) represent an important yet underutilised component of biodiversity-based nutrition and functional food research. This structured narrative review critically synthesises current evidence on the phytochemical composition and nutritional relevance, biological activities, and sustainability dimensions of WEFs, with emphasis on fruit pulp as the primary edible tissue. A systematic search strategy following PRISMA-based principles was applied to enhance methodological transparency; however, due to high heterogeneity in species, analytical methods, and outcome measures, quantitative meta-analysis was not feasible. The review integrates compositional data (phenolics, carotenoids, tocopherols, sterols, vitamin C, and minerals) with reported bioactivities, while explicitly distinguishing between in vitro assays, in vivo studies, and limited clinical evidence. Particular attention is given to analytical variability, bioavailability constraints, dose–response relationships, and translational limitations that affect the interpretation of antioxidant and other health-related claims. Beyond bioactivity, the manuscript contextualises WEFs within socio-economic, conservation, and sustainable food system frameworks. By combining chemical characterisation, evidence hierarchy, and sustainability analysis, this review provides a critical and multidisciplinary perspective that advances understanding of WEFs and identifies priorities for future research, including standardised methodologies and well-designed human intervention trials. Full article

Resource-based regions (RBRs) are vital to socio-economic development, yet intensive resource exploitation strains water, energy, and food (WEF) security and causes environmental stress. Optimizing collaborative management of the WEF nexus is crucial for their sustainable development. This study developed an integrated model (WEFN) for optimizing the WEF nexus in RBRs by combining multi-objective optimization and the efficacy coefficient method. The WEFN model incorporates internal couplings and external linkages of the WEF nexus into objectives and constraints. Using Daqing, China, as a case study, six policy scenarios were designed. S1 follows the 2030 planning scheme, while S2–S5 prioritize energy-food supply, environmental protection, water conservation, and economic gains, respectively. S6, formulated via the WEFN model, integrates the objectives of S2–S5 into a collaborative management policy. A comprehensive benefit evaluation system was established, yielding an Evaluation Index (EVI) to quantify WEF system benefits and identify the optimal scenario. Results show that collaborative policy S6 best supports coordinated socio-economic and environmental development in Daqing. The findings offer a valuable reference for WEF nexus management in other RBRs. Full article

There has been an increasing need to manage the water, energy, and food (WEF) Nexus in an integrated and sustainable way using Industry 4.0 (4IR) technologies. While 4IR technologies can significantly improve resource management and sustainability in the Nexus, their uptake across the WEF Nexus has been uneven due to institutional fragmentation and limited digital capability. This study assessed a multi-level human capital framework developed to facilitate the structured integration of 4IR technologies into the WEF Nexus. The study leveraged human capital theory and Strategic Human Resource Management to frame capability development as a multi-level process. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, initially surveying 262 professionals in the WEF Nexus to assess essential skill capabilities. This was followed by a two-round Delphi procedure involving 12 experts to refine and validate the multi-level framework. The findings reveal that digital transformation in the WEF Nexus is dependent on the synchronisation of national policy frameworks, organisational learning cultures, and individual skill sets. These levels do not work as separate enablers; instead, they work together as an integrated capacity ecosystem in which misalignment at any point will hinder the effective integration of 4IR technologies. The validated framework provides a systematic approach to understanding the interplay of human capital processes within socio-technical systems and provides a structured approach for designing comprehensive strategies that strengthen digital readiness across sectors. The study advocates for a system-embedded human capital (SEHC) approach and contributes to ongoing discussions on innovation in the public sector by highlighting the systemic nature of human capital development in sustainability- and resource-critical sectors. Full article