Policy implications of energy-water-carbon emissions nexus based on national policies in China
(2025) In Energy 339.- Abstract
To address the absence of the comprehensive analysis of energy-water-carbon emissions nexus between large-scale economies and different industries and the inability to predict policy impacts across industrial hierarchies, this study develops a novel framework integrating environmentally-extended multi-regional input-output analysis with structural decomposition analysis and policy-driven scenario forecasting. Based on the multi-regional input-output tables from the Carbon Emission Accounts and Datasets and provincial energy-water-carbon emissions data from Chinese bulletins, the study systematically researches spatial-temporal analysis of virtual energy-water-carbon emissions footprint, identification of key drivers, and policy impact... (More)
To address the absence of the comprehensive analysis of energy-water-carbon emissions nexus between large-scale economies and different industries and the inability to predict policy impacts across industrial hierarchies, this study develops a novel framework integrating environmentally-extended multi-regional input-output analysis with structural decomposition analysis and policy-driven scenario forecasting. Based on the multi-regional input-output tables from the Carbon Emission Accounts and Datasets and provincial energy-water-carbon emissions data from Chinese bulletins, the study systematically researches spatial-temporal analysis of virtual energy-water-carbon emissions footprint, identification of key drivers, and policy impact projections based on China's carbon peaking and water conservation targets. Key findings reveal: (1) There are strong provincial energy-water-carbon emissions nexus correlations in China (minimum nexus coefficient >0.6), with underdeveloped regions exhibiting lower resource efficiency; (2) Existing energy policies have significantly transferred energy pressure. Resource intensity and production structure are found to significantly influence the evolution of energy-water-carbon emissions nexus characteristics; (3) Scenario projections indicate 51.3 %, 7.3 %, and 32.9 % reductions in energy, water, and carbon coefficients by 2030, though renewable transitions may increase regional water stress. The framework advances energy-water-carbon emissions nexus analysis and provides actionable insights for differentiated regional policies, which offers a replicable model for sustainable transition planning in emerging economies.
(Less)
- author
- Du, Shixiong
; Liang, Changmei
; Sun, Huaiwei
; Deng, Xiaoya
; Xue, Jie
; Chen, Fulong
; Xiao, Wu
; Zhou, Haiyan
; Meng, Changqing
; You, Zhiwen
and Zhang, Wenxin
LU
(Less) - publishing date
- 2025-12-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Driving factors, Energy-water-carbon emissions nexus, National policies, Sustainable development goals, Virtual footprint
- in
- Energy
- volume
- 339
- article number
- 138950
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105019528328
- ISSN
- 0360-5442
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.energy.2025.138950
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier Ltd
- id
- ef6d996b-a837-42e1-a9b8-a41f4a88e7f8
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-01 01:56:07
- date last changed
- 2026-01-08 03:34:22
@article{ef6d996b-a837-42e1-a9b8-a41f4a88e7f8,
abstract = {{<p>To address the absence of the comprehensive analysis of energy-water-carbon emissions nexus between large-scale economies and different industries and the inability to predict policy impacts across industrial hierarchies, this study develops a novel framework integrating environmentally-extended multi-regional input-output analysis with structural decomposition analysis and policy-driven scenario forecasting. Based on the multi-regional input-output tables from the Carbon Emission Accounts and Datasets and provincial energy-water-carbon emissions data from Chinese bulletins, the study systematically researches spatial-temporal analysis of virtual energy-water-carbon emissions footprint, identification of key drivers, and policy impact projections based on China's carbon peaking and water conservation targets. Key findings reveal: (1) There are strong provincial energy-water-carbon emissions nexus correlations in China (minimum nexus coefficient >0.6), with underdeveloped regions exhibiting lower resource efficiency; (2) Existing energy policies have significantly transferred energy pressure. Resource intensity and production structure are found to significantly influence the evolution of energy-water-carbon emissions nexus characteristics; (3) Scenario projections indicate 51.3 %, 7.3 %, and 32.9 % reductions in energy, water, and carbon coefficients by 2030, though renewable transitions may increase regional water stress. The framework advances energy-water-carbon emissions nexus analysis and provides actionable insights for differentiated regional policies, which offers a replicable model for sustainable transition planning in emerging economies.</p>}},
author = {{Du, Shixiong and Liang, Changmei and Sun, Huaiwei and Deng, Xiaoya and Xue, Jie and Chen, Fulong and Xiao, Wu and Zhou, Haiyan and Meng, Changqing and You, Zhiwen and Zhang, Wenxin}},
issn = {{0360-5442}},
keywords = {{Driving factors; Energy-water-carbon emissions nexus; National policies; Sustainable development goals; Virtual footprint}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Energy}},
title = {{Policy implications of energy-water-carbon emissions nexus based on national policies in China}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.138950}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.energy.2025.138950}},
volume = {{339}},
year = {{2025}},
}