IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i3p1002-d1325476.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Water-Energy-Food-Carbon System Vulnerability: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin, China

Author

Listed:
  • Lei Tong

    (School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Mengdie Luo

    (School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

With the growing influences of anthropogenic activities and climatic change, the problem concerning the vulnerability of the Water-Energy-Food-Carbon (WEFC) system in the Yellow River Basin is prominent. Using the VSD framework, the WEFC system vulnerability evaluation index system was constructed with 60 cities in the Yellow River Basin as the samples, and the WEFC system vulnerability of each city was measured from 2010 to 2019. Kernel density estimation, Theil index, and spatial correlation analysis were employed to investigate spatio-temporal evolution characteristics. Geodetector was utilized to analyze the driving factors of WEFC system vulnerability. The results demonstrate that: (1) The vulnerability of the WEFC system in the Yellow River Basin tends to decrease, with a spatial pattern of “low in the middle and high on both sides”; the vulnerability is largest in the upper and lower reaches, while smallest in the middle reaches. (2) The spatial difference in vulnerability narrows in the middle and lower reaches, while expanding in the upper reaches. The differences among the three major regions mainly originate from within the region, with the upper reaches having the largest difference and contribution; the vulnerability is featured with a significant spatial correlation, with the upper and lower reaches cities mostly displaying a “high-high” agglomeration and the middle reaches mainly showing a “low-low” one. (3) Factors, including the carbon and ecological carrying capacity coefficient, water resource development and utilization rate, and urbanization rate, mainly influence the WEFC system vulnerability; the spatial heterogeneity of core drivers at the regional scale is obvious, with the upper reaches regions being more strongly influenced by factors of the water resources system, while the middle and lower reaches regions are more sensitive to factors concerning industrial pollution of the energy subsystem. The explanatory power of carbon ecological carrying capacity reaches its peak in the middle reaches. The interaction of factors increases the strength of the impact on vulnerability. This study provides decision support and policy suggestions for achieving a balanced and coordinated development of water resource utilization, energy development, food production, and carbon cycle system in the Yellow River Basin. Investigating WEFC system vulnerability to support SDG 11 provided valuable insights and policy strategies for building cities that are inclusive, secure, resource-efficient, and resilient in the face of climate change and disaster risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Tong & Mengdie Luo, 2024. "Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Water-Energy-Food-Carbon System Vulnerability: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-32, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1002-:d:1325476
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/3/1002/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/3/1002/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. He, Liuyue & Xu, Zhenci & Wang, Sufen & Bao, Jianxia & Fan, Yunfei & Daccache, Andre, 2022. "Optimal crop planting pattern can be harmful to reach carbon neutrality: Evidence from food-energy-water-carbon nexus perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    2. Wei Hu & Jingsong Liu, 2023. "The Coupling and Coordination of Urban Modernization and Low-Carbon Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Shunsheng Wang & Ruijie Yang & Shang Shi & Aili Wang & Tengfei Liu & Jinyue Yang, 2023. "Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Coupled Water–Energy–Food Nexus in the Yellow River Basin in Henan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Syed Mithun Ali & Andrea Appolloni & Fausto Cavallaro & Idiano D’Adamo & Assunta Di Vaio & Francesco Ferella & Massimo Gastaldi & Muhammad Ikram & Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar & Michael Alan Martin & Abdul, 2023. "Development Goals towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, June.
    5. Yinwen Huang & Dechun Huang, 2023. "Decoupling Economic Growth from Embodied Water–Energy–Food Consumption Based on a Modified MRIO Model: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Vasileios A. Tzanakakis & Andrea G. Capodaglio & Andreas N. Angelakis, 2023. "Insights into Global Water Reuse Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-30, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Odeh Al-Jayyousi & Hira Amin & Hiba Ali Al-Saudi & Amjaad Aljassas & Evren Tok, 2023. "Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Raquel Francisco Mafra & Jacir Leonir Casagrande & Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra & Nei Antonio Nunes & Felipe Texeira Dias & Samuel Borges Barbosa & José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra, 2024. "Social Innovation as a Support for the Visibility of Vulnerable Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Idiano D’Adamo & Cristina Di Carlo & Massimo Gastaldi & Edouard Nicolas Rossi & Antonio Felice Uricchio, 2024. "Economic Performance, Environmental Protection and Social Progress: A Cluster Analysis Comparison towards Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-24, June.
    4. Mengxuan Yan & Yuhong Tian & Lizhu Wu & Huichao Zheng, 2024. "Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Pattern and Interaction of SDGs for Sustainable Development in Inner Mongolia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-22, August.
    5. Ana M. Osorio & Luisa F. Úsuga & Jaime A. Restrepo-Carmona & Isabel Rendón & Julián Sierra-Pérez & Rafael E. Vásquez, 2024. "Methodology for Stakeholder Prioritization in the Context of Digital Transformation and Society 5.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-18, June.
    6. Catalina Cruz-Piedrahita & Francisco-Javier Martinez-Carranza & Maria Mar Delgado-Serrano, 2024. "A Multidimensional Approach to Understanding Food Deserts in Vulnerable Contexts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Ingi Runar Edvardsson & Johanna Gardarsdottir, 2023. "Navigating Uncharted Waters: Exploring Leaders’ Challenges in the Era of COVID-19 and the Rise of Telework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-24, November.
    8. Mark Elder & Elli Newman, 2023. "Monitoring G20 Countries’ SDG Implementation Policies and Budgets Reported in Their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-27, November.
    9. Miki Fukuda & Eric Zusman, 2024. "Meaningful Youth Engagement in Sustainability Processes in Japan and Finland: A Comparative Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-20, July.
    10. J. N. Chandra Sekhar & Bullarao Domathoti & Ernesto D. R. Santibanez Gonzalez, 2023. "Prediction of Battery Remaining Useful Life Using Machine Learning Algorithms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-28, October.
    11. Nursel Aydıntuğ Myrvang & Gamze Sart & Marina Danilina & Mohammad A. Ta’Amnha, 2023. "Impact of Market-Oriented Business Environment and ICT on Sustainable Development: Panel Evidence from the New EU Member States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    12. Ernesto D. R. Santibanez Gonzalez & Vinay Kandpal & Marcio Machado & Mauro Luiz Martens & Sushobhan Majumdar, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Circular Economies through Sustainable Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    13. Theresa Rubhara & James Gaffey & Gavin Hunt & Fionnuala Murphy & Kevin O’Connor & Enda Buckley & Luis Alejandro Vergara, 2024. "A Business Case for Climate Neutrality in Pasture-Based Dairy Production Systems in Ireland: Evidence from Farm Zero C," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Jia Shen & Xiaohong Ren & Zhitao Feng, 2024. "Study on the Railway Effect of the Coordinated Development of the Economy and Environment in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    15. Marzena Smol & Paulina Marcinek & Joanna Duda, 2024. "Circular Business Models (CBMs) in Environmental Management—Analysis of Definitions, Typologies and Methods of Creation in Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-25, January.
    16. Maria Tomai & Shyama V. Ramani & George Papachristos, 2024. "How Can We Design Policy Better? Frameworks and Approaches for Sustainability Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-22, January.
    17. Jina Kim & Seungmin Jee & Seunghan Ro, 2023. "Do Public-Led Housing Site Development Projects Affect Local Housing Prices: A Proposal for a Comprehensive Policy Evaluation Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-27, December.
    18. Dongfeng Ren & Zeyu Hu & Aihua Cao, 2024. "Evaluation and Prediction of the Coordination Degree of Coupling Water-Energy-Food-Land Systems in Typical Arid Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-22, August.
    19. Ionuț Viorel Herghiligiu & Ioan-Bogdan Robu & Marinela Istrate & Maria Grosu & Camelia Cătălina Mihalciuc & Adrian Vilcu, 2023. "Sustainable Corporate Performance Based on Audit Report Influence: An Empirical Approach through Financial Transparency and Gender Equality Dimensions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-28, September.
    20. Jin, Xuanyi & Jiang, Wenrui & Fang, Delin & Wang, Saige & Chen, Bin, 2024. "Evaluation and driving force analysis of the water-energy‑carbon nexus in agricultural trade for RCEP countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PB).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1002-:d:1325476. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.