Abstract
The global water resources network is simulated in the present work for the latest target year with statistical data available and with the most detailed data disaggregation. A top-down approach of systems inputoutput simulation is employed to track the embodied water flows associated with economic flows for the globalized economy in 2004. The numerical simulation provides a database of embodied water intensities for all economic commodities from 4928 producers, based on which the differences between direct and indirect water using efficiencies at the global scale are discussed. The direct and embodied water uses are analyzed at continental level. Besides, the commodity demand in terms of monetary expenditure and the water demand in terms of embodied water use are compared for the world as well as for three major water using regions, i.e., India, China, and the United States. Results show that food product contributes to a significant fraction for water demand, despite the value varies significantly with respect to the economic status of region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cai Z F (2010). Water Resources and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Covered Ecological Exergy Account. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Beijing: Peking University (in Chinese)
Chapagain A K, Hoekstra A Y (2003). Virtual Water Flows between Nations in Relation to Trade in Livestock and Livestock Products. Value ofWater Research Report Series No. 13. Delft: UNESCO-IHE, http://www.waterfootprint.org/Reports/Report13.pdf
Chen G Q, Chen Z M (2010). Carbon emissions and resources use by Chinese economy 2007: a 135-sector inventory and input-output embodiment. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(11): 3647–3732
Chen G Q, Chen Z M (2011a). Greenhouse gas emissions and natural resources use by the world economy: ecological input-output modeling. Ecol Modell, 222(14): 2362–2376
Chen Z M (2011). Analysis of Embodied Ecological Endowment Flow for the World Economy. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Beijing: Peking University (in Chinese)
Chen Z M, Chen G Q (2011b). An overview of energy consumption of the globalized world economy. Energy Policy, 39(10): 5920–5928
Chen Z M, Chen G Q, Chen B (2010b). Embodied carbon dioxide emissions of the world economy: a systems input-output simulation for 2004. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 2: 1827–1840
Chen ZM, Chen G Q, Zhou J B, Jiang MM, Chen B (2010a). Ecological input-output modeling for embodied resources and emissions in Chinese economy 2005. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(7): 1942–1965
Davis S J, Caldeira K (2010). Consumption-based accounting of CO2 emissions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 107(12): 5687–5692
Duarte R, Sánchez-Chóliz J, Bielsa J (2002). Water use in the Spanish economy: an input-output approach. Ecol Econ, 43(1): 71–85
Fraiture C, Cai X, Amarasinghe U, Rosegrant M, Molden D (2004). Does International Cereal Trade Save Water? The Impact of Virtual Water Trade on Global Water Use. Comprehensive Assessment Research Report 4. Colombo: International Water Management Institute
Guan D, Hubacek K (2007). Assessment of regional trade and virtual water flows in China. Ecol Econ, 61(1): 159–170
Hertwich E G, Peters G P (2009). Carbon footprint of nations: a global, trade-linked analysis. Environ Sci Technol, 43(16): 6414–6420
Hoekstra A Y, Chapagain A K (2006).Water footprints of nations: water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resour Manage, 21(1): 35–48
Hoekstra A Y, Hung P Q (2002). Virtual Water Trade: a Quantification of Virtual Water Flows between Nations in Relation to International Crop Trade. Value of Water Research Report Series No. 11. Delft: UNESCO-IHE, http://www.waterfootprint.org/Reports/Report11.pdf
Hoekstra A Y, Hung P Q (2005). Globalisation of water resources: international virtual water flows in relation to crop trade. Glob Environ Change, 15(1): 45–56
Hubacek K, Guan D, Barrett J, Wiedmann T (2009). Environmental implications of urbanization and lifestyle change in China: ecological and water footprints. J Clean Prod, 17(14): 1241–1248
Miller R E, Blair P D (2009). Input-Output Analysis: Foundations and Extensions. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press
Narayanan B G, Walmsley T L (2008). Global Trade, Assistance, and Production: The GTAP 7 Data Base. West Lafayette: Center for Global Trade Analysis, Purdue University
Odum H T (1971). Environment, Power, and Society. New York: Wiley-Interscience
Odum H T (1983). Systems Ecology. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Odum H T (1994). Ecological and General Systems: an Introduction to Systems Ecology. Niwot: University Press of Colorado
Oki T, Kanae S (2004). Virtual water trade and world water resources. Water Sci Technol, 49(7): 203–209
Peters G P (2007). Opportunities and challenges for environmental MRIO modelling: illustrations with the GTAP database. In: Istanbul: 16th International Input-Output Conference of the International Input-Output Association (IIOA)
Peters G P (2010). Carbon footprints and embodied carbon at multiple scales. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2(4): 245–250
Velázquez E (2006). An input-output model of water consumption: analysing intersectoral water relationships in Andalusia. Ecol Econ, 56(2): 226–240
Wiedmann T (2009). A review of recent multi-region input-output models used for consumption-based emission and resource accounting. Ecol Econ, 69(2): 211–222
Wiedmann T, Lenzen M, Turner K, Barrett J (2007). Examining the global environmental impact of regional consumption activities—part 2: review of input-output models for the assessment of environmental impacts embodied in trade. Ecol Econ, 61(1): 15–26
World Bank (2011). World Development Indicator. The World Bank Group, http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog
Yang H, Wang L, Abbaspour K C, Zehnder A J B (2006). Virtual water trade: an assessment of water use efficiency in the international food trade. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci, 10(3): 443–454
Yu Y, Hubacek K, Feng K, Guan D (2010). Assessing regional and global water footprints for the UK. Ecol Econ, 69(5): 1140–1147
Zhao X, Chen B, Yang Z F (2009). National water footprint in an inputoutput framework-a case study of China 2002. Ecol Modell, 220(2): 245–253
Zhao X, Yang H, Yang Z F, Chen B, Qin Y (2010). Applying the inputoutput method to account for water footprint and virtual water trade in the Haihe River basin in China. Environ Sci Technol, 44(23): 9150–9156
Zhou S Y, Chen H, Li S C (2010). Resources use and greenhouse gas emissions in urban economy: ecological input-output modeling for Beijing 2002. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(10): 3201–3231
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, Z., Chen, G., Xia, X. et al. Global network of embodied water flow by systems input-output simulation. Front. Earth Sci. 6, 331–344 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-012-0305-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-012-0305-3