Search Results (360)

To evaluate water pollution status and sustainable development potential in the Huai River Basin, this study focused on the spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of the grey water footprint (GWF) across 35 cities in the basin from 2005 to 2020. This study quantifies the GWF from agricultural, industrial, and domestic perspectives and analyzes its spatial disparities by incorporating spatial autocorrelation analysis. The Tapio decoupling model was applied to explore the relationship between pollution and economic growth, and geographic detectors along with the STIRPAT model were utilized to identify driving factors. The results revealed no significant global spatial clustering of GWF in the basin, but a pattern of “high in the east and west, low in the north and south” emerged, with high-value areas concentrated in southern Henan and northern Jiangsu. By 2020, 85.7% of cities achieved strong decoupling, indicating improved coordination between the environment and economy. Key driving factors included primary industry output, crop sown area, and grey water footprint intensity, with a notable interaction between agricultural output and grey water footprint intensity. The quantitative analysis based on the STIRPAT model demonstrated that seven factors, including grey water footprint intensity and total crop sown area, exhibited significant contributions to influencing variations. Ranked by importance, these factors were grey water footprint intensity > total crop sown area > urbanization rate > population size > secondary industry output > primary industry output > industrial wastewater discharge, collectively explaining 90.2% of the variability in GWF. The study provides a robust scientific basis for water pollution control and differentiated management in the river basin and holds significant importance for promoting sustainable development of the basin. Full article

With the acceleration of urbanization in China, water resources have become a key factor restricting regional sustainable development. Current research primarily examines the temporal or spatial variations in the water resources ecological footprint (WREF), with limited emphasis on the integration of both spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we collected the data and information from the 2005–2022 Statistical Yearbook and Water Resources Bulletin of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA), and calculated evaluation indicators: WREF, water resources ecological carrying capacity (WRECC), water resources ecological pressure (WREP), and water resources ecological surplus and deficit (WRESD). We primarily analyzed the temporal and spatial variation in the per capita WREF and used the method of Geodetector to explore factors driving its temporal and spatial variation in the YRDUA. The results showed that: (1) From 2005 to 2022, the per capita WREF (total water, agricultural water, and industrial water) of the YRDUA generally showed fluctuating declining trends, while the per capita WREF of domestic water and ecological water showed obvious growth. (2) The per capita WREF and the per capita WRECC were in the order of Jiangsu Province > Anhui Province > Shanghai City > Zhejiang Province. The spatial distribution of the per capita WREF was similar to those of the per capita WRECC, and most areas effectively consume water resources. (3) The explanatory power of the interaction between factors was greater than that of a single factor, indicating that the spatiotemporal variation in the per capita WREF of the YRDUA was affected by the combination of multiple factors and that there were regional differences in the major factors in the case of secondary metropolitan areas. (4) The per capita WREF of YRDUA was affected by natural resources, and the impact of the ecological condition on the per capita WREF increased gradually over time. The impact factors of secondary metropolitan areas also clearly changed over time. Our results showed that the ecological situation of per capita water resources in the YRDUA is generally good, with obvious spatial and temporal differences. Full article

With climate change, the spatial and temporal patterns of precipitation are altered to a certain degree, which potentially affects the grey water footprint (GWF) of total nitrogen (TN) in agriculture, thereby threatening water security in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB), the largest river in China. The current study constructs an assessment framework for climate change impacts on the GWF of agricultural TN by coupling Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) with the InVEST model. The framework consists of four components: (i) data collection and processing, (ii) simulating the two critical indicators (L_TN and W) in the GWF model based on the InVEST model, (iii) calculating the GWF and GWF index (GI) of TN, and (iv) calculating climate change impact index on GWF of agricultural TN (CI) under two SSPs. It is applied to the YRB, and the results show the following: (i) GWFs are 959.7 and 961.4 billion m³ under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios in 2030, respectively, which are both lower than that in 2020 (1067.1 billion m³). (ii) The GI values for TN in 2030 under SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 remain at “High” grade, with the values of 0.95 and 1.03, respectively. Regionally, the water pollution level of Taihu Lake is the highest, while that of Wujiang River is the lowest. (iii) The CI values of the YRB in 2030 under SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios are 0.507 and 0.527, respectively. And the CI values of the five regions in the YRB are greater than 0, indicating that the negative effects of climate change on GWFs increase. (iv) Compared with 2020, L_TN and W in YRB in 2030 under the two SSPs decrease, while the GI of TN in YRB rises from SSP1-2.6 to SSP5-8.5. The assessment framework can provide strategic recommendations for sustainable water resource management in the YRB and other regions globally under climate change. Full article

Agriculture, livestock, and fisheries significantly impact socioeconomic, environmental, and health dimensions at global level, ensuring food supply for growing populations whilst promoting economic welfare through international trade, employment, and income. Considering that bilateral food exchanges between countries represent exchanges of natural resources involved in food production (i.e., food imports are equivalent to savings of natural resources), the purpose of the study is to investigate the evolution of carbon and water footprints corresponding to the global food trade networks between 1986 and 2020. The research aims to identify potential associations between carbon and water footprints embedded in food trade and countries’ economic welfare. Complex network analysis was used to map countries’ positions within annual food trade networks, and countries’ metrics within networks were used to identify connections between participation in global trade of carbon and water footprints and economic welfare. The findings of the study show an increase in carbon and water footprints linked to global food exchanges between countries during the period. Furthermore, a country’s centrality within the network was linked to economic welfare, showing that countries with higher imports of carbon and water through global food trade derive economic benefits from participating in global trade. Global efforts towards transformations of food systems should prioritize sustainable development standards to ensure continued access to healthy sustainable diets for populations worldwide. Full article

Unveiling the relationship between the “Water–Carbon–Ecology” (W-C-E) footprints embodied in regional trade and resource flows is crucial for enhancing the synergistic benefits between economic development and environmental protection. This study constructs an association framework based on the Multi-Regional Input–Output (MRIO) model to systematically evaluate the “W-C-E” footprints and resource flow characteristics of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin. By integrating import and export trade data, this study reveals the patterns of resource flows within and outside these regions. This research delineates the connection patterns between the “W-C-E” footprints and resource flows across three dimensions: spatial, sectoral, and environmental–economic factors. The results indicate that the Yangtze River Economic Belt has gained significant economic benefits from regional trade but also bears substantial environmental costs. Import and export trade further exacerbate the imbalance in regional resource flows, with the Yangtze River Economic Belt exporting many embodied resources through high-energy-consuming products, while the Yellow River Basin increases resource input by importing products such as food and tobacco. Sectoral analysis reveals that agriculture, electricity and water supply, and mining are the sectors with the highest net output of “W-C-E” footprints in both regions, whereas services, food and tobacco, and construction are the sectors with the highest net input. The comprehensive framework of this study can be extended to the analysis of resource–environment–economic systems in other regions, providing methodological support for depicting complex human–land system linkage patterns. Full article

In the context of agricultural green transformation, the balance between the environmental footprint and economic return is a key indicator for measuring the synergy of high yields, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness in agricultural systems. However, the pathways and mechanisms for achieving this synergy in orchard systems remain unclear. Based on a three-year field experiment in Pinghe County, Fujian Province, a comprehensive evaluation framework integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) was constructed. This framework was used to systematically analyze the differences in the net ecosystem economic benefit (EEB) and environmental impact of four fertilization regimes: the conventional farming regime with no mulching (A; 1084 kg N ha⁻¹, 914 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, and 906 kg K₂O ha⁻¹), the conventional farming regime with mulching (B), the optimized fertilization regime with water–fertilizer integration (C; 250 kg N ha⁻¹, 200 kg K₂O ha⁻¹, 100 kg MgO ha⁻¹, and 400 kg CaO ha⁻¹), and the optimized fertilization regime with controlled-release fertilizers (D). The results showed that regime D performed best in terms of yield, nutrient-use efficiency, and EEB, which increased by 220.5% and 297.5% compared with regime A, and reduced the input cost by CNY 63,100~69,000 hm⁻². Moreover, compared with regime A, regimes B, C, and D significantly reduced the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus footprints, respectively, with the carbon footprint reduced by 6.7~21.7%, 72.4~74.8%, and 71.6~76.5%; the nitrogen footprint reduced by 2.6~19.0%, 80.7~82.2%, and 80.1~83.4%; and the phosphorus footprint reduced by 15.3%, 100%, and 100%. Furthermore, the comprehensive evaluation index (CEI) is D > C > B > A. In total, the three optimized regimes balanced high yield with environmental sustainability, with the D regime showing the best performance, offering scientific support for transitioning to low-carbon, high-value orchards in smallholder systems. Full article

The determination of the actual crop water requirement (CWR) today represents an important prerogative for combating climate change. A three-year trial was conducted to ad-dress the need to provide adequate support to processing tomato growers in defining the correct amounts of water to be supplied. In fact, the objective of this work was to calculate the water requirement of processing tomatoes, specifically analyzing their irrigation needs using the CROPWAT 8.0 software and through capacitive and tensiometric probes. Furthermore, for both methods, the tomato yield was evaluated both by supplying 100% of its water requirement and by supplying, through regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), 70% of its water requirement. Subsequently, for each irrigation strategy employed and for each CWR calculation method, the water footprint was calculated by analyzing the blue, green, and grey components. In the years 2022 and 2023, there was an overestimation of CWR of 13.5% for IR100 and 13.94% for IR70, and 14.53% for IR100 and 11.65% for IR70, respectively, while in 2024 there was an underestimation, with values of 9.17% and 5.22% for the IR100 and IR70 treatments compared to the values obtained with the probes. The total WF of tomatoes varied between 33.42 and 51.91 m³ t⁻¹ with the CROPWAT model and between 35.82 and 47.19 m³ t⁻¹ with the probes for IR100, while for RDI70, the values ranged between 38.72 and 59.44 m³ t⁻¹ with the CROPWAT method and between 35.81 and 53.95 m³ t⁻¹ with the probe method. In water-scarce regions, integrating the CROPWAT 8.0 model (enhanced with real-world data) and implementing smart systems can significantly improve water management, refine decision-making processes, and mitigate environmental impacts. This approach directly addresses the urgent need for water security within sustainable agriculture. Full article

The arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China, as major agricultural production zones, have long faced dual challenges: increasing water resource pressure and severe supply–demand imbalances caused by the expansion of cultivated land. The crop water footprint, an effective indicator for quantifying agricultural water use, plays a crucial role in supporting sustainable development in the region. This study adopted a multi-scale spatiotemporal analysis framework, combining the CROPWAT model with Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of crop water footprints in Northwest China from 2000 to 2020. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model was used to analyze spatial variations in the driving forces. A multidimensional evaluation system—encompassing structural, economic, ecological, and sustainability dimensions—was established to comprehensively assess agricultural water resource utilization in the region. Results indicated that the crop water footprint in Northwest China followed a “decline-increase-decline” trend, it increased from 90.97 billion m³ in 2000 to a peak of 133.49 billion m³ in 2017, before declining to 129.30 billion m³ in 2020. The center of the crop water footprint gradually shifted northward—from northern Qinghai to southern Inner Mongolia—mainly due to rapid farmland expansion and increasing water consumption in northern areas. Policy and institutional effect, together with economic development effect, were identified as the primary drivers, contributing 49% in total. Although reliance on blue water has decreased, the region continues to experience moderate water pressure, with sustainable use achieved in only half of the study years. Water scarcity remains a pressing concern. This study offers a theoretical basis and policy recommendations to enhance water use efficiency, develop effective management strategies, and promote sustainable water resource utilization in Northwest China. Full article

This study presents an integrated modeling framework that combines CO₂ emissions and economic valuation to advance sustainable water management, focusing on the Segura River Basin in southeastern Spain. Characterized by arid conditions and severe water stress, the basin serves as an exemplary case for evaluating the trade-offs between environmental sustainability and economic productivity. The framework integrates CO₂ emissions models with economic analyses to quantify the carbon footprint and economic returns across five key water demand sectors: agriculture, industry, urban, recreational and environmental. Results demonstrate substantial variations in both CO₂ emissions and economic returns across and within these sectors, underscoring source-specific differences. Agriculture stands out as a key sector that balances carbon sequestration with productivity, whereas urban and industrial sectors exhibit energy-intensive water demands that significantly increase emissions. Additionally, there is notable heterogeneity in economic performance and CO₂ emissions within each sector. By linking CO₂ emissions with economic outcomes, the framework enables users to assess the relationship between economic value and CO₂ emissions across water demand units, supporting informed decision-making on the most sustainable allocation strategies. A critical finding is the negative economic impact of using desalinated water in agriculture, where high costs substantially reduce profit margins. These insights inform policies aimed at enhancing resource efficiency, promoting low-carbon water sources and aligning water management strategies with both environmental and economic goals. This approach guides sustainable water allocation in water-scarce regions. Full article

Italy is a global top wine producer, with emphasis on high-quality wines. This study investigates the Carbon Footprint (CF), Water Footprint (WF), and Ecological Footprint (EF) of twelve red wine producers in Piedmont, Northern Italy. The analysis was based on a 0.75 L wine bottle as functional unit (FU). Twelve producers were interviewed and given questionnaires, which made it possible to gather primary data for the environmental evaluation that described vineyard and agricultural operations and wine production. The average CF was 0.88 ± 0.3 kg ${CO}_{2eq},$ with 44% of CF associated with the glass bottle, 20% to the diesel fuel fed to the agricultural machines, 32% to electricity consumption, and 4% to other contributions. The average WF was 881 ± 252.4 L, with 98% Green WF due to evapotranspiration, and 2% Blue and Grey WF. The average EF was 81.3 ± 57.2 global ha, 73% ascribed to the vineyard area and 27% to CO₂ assimilation. The obtained CF and WF values align with existing literature, while no comparison is possible for the EF data, which are previously unknown. To reduce the environmental impacts of wine production, actions like using recycled glass bottles, electric agricultural machines and renewable energy can help. However, high-quality wine production in Piedmont is deeply rooted in tradition and mostly managed by small producers. Further research should investigate the social acceptance of such actions, and policies supporting economic incentives could be key enablers. Full article

Globally, agricultural irrigation accounts for the majority of freshwater use and 15% of annual agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting its critical mitigation potential amid climate change. While localized Chinese studies have analyzed the water–energy–carbon nexus, nationwide assessments of irrigation carbon-reduction potential, integrating crop water requirements, water use, and energy consumption, remain limited due to scarce longitudinal panel data. This study fills this gap by evaluating provincial-level potentials in China (2004–2020) using national/provincial statistical data on crop areas, irrigation water, energy use, and climate parameters. Findings reveal pronounced spatial–temporal variations: Henan, Heilongjiang, and Shandong exhibit the highest crop water demands (driven by rice/maize/wheat), while Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, and Guangdong show substantial water-saving opportunities. Xinjiang has the largest amount of irrigation-related carbon emissions, whereas the northeastern provinces offer the greatest reduction potential. A positive correlation between irrigation-carbon efficiency and groundwater utilization underscores the need for improved groundwater management. By linking crop water requirements to emission reductions through a nationally representative dataset, this study provides empirical evidence for region-specific strategies to enhance water-use efficiency and reduce irrigation’s environmental footprint. The findings inform policymakers on balancing agricultural productivity with sustainability goals, addressing both local water scarcity and global decarbonization imperatives. Full article

The mounting global population and the challenges posed by climate change underline the need for sustainable food production systems. This review synthesizes evidence for a dual-track bioeconomy, green (terrestrial plants and insects) and blue (aquatic algae), as complementary pathways toward sustainable nutrition. A comprehensive review of the extant literature, technical reports, and policy documents published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted, with a particular focus on environmental, nutritional, and techno-economic metrics. In addition, precision agriculture datasets, gene-editing breakthroughs, and circular biorefinery case studies were extracted and compared. As demonstrated in this study, the use of green resources, such as legumes, oilseeds, and edible insects, results in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water footprints compared with conventional livestock production. In addition, these alternative protein sources offer substantial benefits in terms of bioactive lipids. Blue resources, centered on micro- and macroalgae, furnish additional proteins, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidant pigments and sequester carbon on non-arable or wastewater substrates. The transition to bio-based resources is facilitated by technological innovations, such as gene editing and advanced extraction methods, which promote the efficient valorization of agricultural residues. In conclusion, the study strongly suggests that policy support be expedited and that research into bioeconomy technologies be increased to ensure the sustainable meeting of future food demands. Full article

Water resources are a key constraint on sustainable development in arid regions, especially for agricultural production where water use is intensive. To assess the sustainability of agricultural water use in such environments, this study utilizes 2010–2020 agricultural data from the Turpan–Hami Basin and is among the first to integrate the water footprint (WF) theory with the DPSIR (driver–pressure–state–impact–response) model into a comprehensive framework for evaluating water resource sustainability in arid agricultural systems. The agricultural blue, green, and grey WF in the Turpan–Hami Basin were quantified for 2010–2020, followed by a sustainability assessment under the DPSIR framework using a comprehensive weighting method. The results showed a continuous increase in the WF, dominated by the blue WF (>60%), largely due to crops like cotton and grapes, intensifying regional water stress. Turpan experienced prolonged resource overload, while Hami exhibited slightly higher sustainability. DPSIR analysis revealed stronger policy responses in Turpan and significant ecological investments in Hami. Key influencing factors included the crop yield, WF modulus, per capita WF, and water quality shortage index. Overall, sustainability in the basin fluctuated between “Basically Sustainable (Level III)” and “Insufficiently Sustainable (Level IV)”, with slight improvement in 2020. The findings highlight the need for region-specific agricultural optimization, strengthened ecological governance, and improved water-saving strategies to enhance water use efficiency and sustainability in arid regions. Full article

Malting is one of the most energy-intensive stages in beer brewing, yet its environmental impacts remain under-characterized despite recent efficiency gains. Barley and malt transport drive significant greenhouse gas emissions in import-dependent countries, while local, small-scale production can offset those savings through lower process efficiencies or higher resource use. This study conducted a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of three Italian malthouses—small, medium, and large—using SimaPro 10.2.0.0 and a functional unit of 1 kg of malted barley delivered by bulk truck to local breweries. Primary data on barley, water, methane, and electricity consumption, as well as waste generation, were collected via questionnaires; secondary data were sourced from Ecoinvent and Agri-Footprint. Impact categories were evaluated using the Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) and Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodologies. Barley cultivation dominates the footprint (84–92% of total impacts when using local grain). Drying and transport contribute 3.7–4.4% and 0–8.4% of impacts, respectively, depending on facility scale and import share. Smaller malthouses exhibit higher per-kilogram impacts due to lower energy efficiency and transportation modes. Mitigation strategies —including sustainable agriculture, renewable energy adoption, logistics optimization, and process improvements—can substantially reduce impacts. Notably, sourcing barley from low-impact suppliers alone lowers the carbon footprint from 0.80 to 0.66 kg CO_2e/kg, freshwater eutrophication from 227 to 32 CTU_e/kg, land use from 196 to 136 Pt/kg, and overall PEF from 192 to 81 µPt/kg. These results underscore the critical role of feedstock sourcing and process efficiency in decarbonizing malt production and provide a quantitative baseline for targeted sustainability interventions. Full article

Water security is a basic requirement of a region’s residents and also an important point of discussion worldwide. The middle route of the south-to-north water diversion project (MR-SNWDP) represents the most extensive inter-basin water allocation scheme globally. It is the major water resource for the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, and its security is of great significance. In this study, 28 indicators including society, nature, and economy were selected from the water sources of the MR-SNWDP from 2000 to 2017. According to the Drivers-Pressures-States-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework principle, the entropy weight method was used for weight calculation, and the comprehensive evaluation method was used for evaluating the water security of the water sources of the MR-SNWDP. This study showed that the total loss of nonpoint source pollution (NPSP) in the water source showed a trend of slow growth, except in 2007. Over the past 18 years, the proportion of pollution from three NPSP sources, livestock, and poultry (LP) breeding industry, planting industry, and living sources, were 44.56%, 40.33%, and 15.11%, respectively. The main driving force of water security in all the areas of the water source was the total net income per capita of farmers. The main pressure was the amount of LP breeding and the amount of fertilizer application. The largest impact indicators were NPSP gray water footprint and soil erosion area, and water conservancy investment was the most effective response measure. Overall, the state of the water source safety was relatively stable, showing an overall upward trend, and it had remained at Grade III except for in 2005, 2006, and 2011. The state of water safety in all areas except Shiyan City was relatively stable, where the state of water safety had fluctuated greatly. Based on the assessment findings, implications for policy and decision-making suggestions for sustainable management of the water sources of the MR-SNWDP resources are put forward. Agricultural cultivation in water source areas should reduce the application of chemical fertilizers and accelerate the promotion of agricultural intensification. Water source areas should minimize retail livestock and poultry farming and promote ecological agriculture. The government should increase investment in water conservancy and return farmland to forests and grasslands, and at the same time strengthen the education of farmers’ awareness of environmental protection. The evaluation system of this study combined indicators such as the impact of agricultural nonpoint source pollution on water bodies, which is innovative and provides a reference for the water safety evaluation system. Full article