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Sustainability Assessment of Water Resources Use in 31 Provinces in China: A Combination Method of Entropy Weight and Cloud Model

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  • Yi Zhang

    (School of Economics and Management, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China)

  • Wenwen Xue

    (School of Economics and Management, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China)

  • Yingnan Wen

    (School of Economics and Management, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China)

  • Xianjia Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

Abstract

As a fundamental and strategic resource, water is a crucial controlling element of ecosystem and natural environment and it plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining and promoting the sustainable development of the economy and society. To achieve the sustainable development of society, the economy and ecology, it is necessary to assess and improve the sustainability of water resources use. Based on the Human–Resource–Nature approach, this paper constructed an indicator system for the sustainability assessment of water resources use (ISSAWRU) in China from three perspectives: water resources condition, socio-economy and ecological environment. A five-level hierarchy of assessment indicators was established. Based on the entropy weight method and the cloud model which took both fuzziness and randomness into account, this paper established an entropy-cloud-based assessment model for the sustainability assessment of water resources use in 31 provinces in China in 2019. The assessment results were compared with results obtained by the TOPSIS method to test their reliability. Finally, a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the sustainability of water resources use in China was conducted. According to the results, water resources per capita had a weighting of 0.306 and the greatest impact on the sustainable use of water resources. In addition, water structure, agricultural water use efficiency, forest coverage, and so on, had a significant impact on the sustainable use of water resources in China. The overall level of sustainability of water resources use in 31 provinces in China was not high—42% of the regions have unsustainable water resources use and there was a clear spatial distribution trend. The sustainability level of water resources use was higher in the southeast and economically developed regions. Therefore, each region should develop measures to guarantee water security based on the local conditions. This research helps policy makers to figure out the contributing factors associated with sustainability of water resources use and to set relevant rules and regulations to promote the use of water resources in a sustainable way.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Zhang & Wenwen Xue & Yingnan Wen & Xianjia Wang, 2022. "Sustainability Assessment of Water Resources Use in 31 Provinces in China: A Combination Method of Entropy Weight and Cloud Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12870-:d:936119
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henrique Chaves & Suzana Alipaz, 2007. "An Integrated Indicator Based on Basin Hydrology, Environment, Life, and Policy: The Watershed Sustainability Index," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(5), pages 883-895, May.
    2. Xueping Gao & Lingling Chen & Bowen Sun & Yinzhu Liu, 2017. "Employing SWOT Analysis and Normal Cloud Model for Water Resource Sustainable Utilization Assessment and Strategy Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-23, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guohui Xu & Jinlong Zhou & Yi Dai & Jinhuang Lin & Fangfang Zou, 2023. "Regional Differences, Temporal Evolution, and Drivers of Rural Hollowing in Coastal Provinces: A Case Study of Fujian Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.

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