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Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Water Ecological Footprint and Countermeasures for Water Sustainability in Japan

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  • Yin Su

    (College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, China
    Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu 808-0135, Japan)

  • Qifang Zheng

    (College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, China)

  • Shenghai Liao

    (College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, China)

Abstract

Water-related problems are mostly caused by water imbalances between supply and demand. This study adopts the ecological footprint method to conduct an empirical study on the sustainable utilization of water resources in Japan. According to the basic principles and calculation methods of water ecological footprint (WEF), the characteristics of Japan’s water ecological footprint were investigated from the time and space dimensions, and a comparative analysis was made with the water ecological footprint of China. The results show that: from 1980 to 2020, the total water ecological footprint in Japan showed a downward trend in both the traditional account and pollutant account, and its spatial pattern was characterized by the relation that the higher the urbanization rate, the larger the water ecological footprint. In terms of water ecological footprint efficiency, Japan’s agricultural water ecological footprint efficiency was the lowest, and the domestic water ecological footprint efficiency was the highest. The water resources policies and measures that Japan and other developing countries should take to ensure the sustainability of water resources were analyzed separately.

Suggested Citation

  • Yin Su & Qifang Zheng & Shenghai Liao, 2022. "Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Water Ecological Footprint and Countermeasures for Water Sustainability in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:10380-:d:893341
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    2. Fuhua Sun & Daoming Pan & Dandan Zhang & Jiayi Guo & Ping Guo & Xiaojie Zhang & Chen Chi & Shengnan Zhang, 2025. "Study on Quantitative Model of Water Resource Ecological Compensation in Yangtze River Basin Based on Water Footprint–Decoupling Analysis Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-30, January.
    3. Zhongfang Zhang & Lijun Hou & Yuhao Qian & Xing Wan, 2022. "Effect of Zero Growth of Fertilizer Action on Ecological Efficiency of Grain Production in China under the Background of Carbon Emission Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.

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