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Impact of Urbanization on Water Resource Competition Between Energy and Food: A Case Study of Jing-Jin-Ji

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  • Kuan Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
    State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China)

  • Lichuan Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China)

  • Jiaqi Zhai

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China)

  • Yong Zhao

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China)

  • Haodong Deng

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China)

  • Xing Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China)

Abstract

Water resources, energy, and food are important resources in China, which play an important role in the process of urban development and are important basic resources for sustainable urban development. This study applied water footprint theory to water–energy–food relations. The regional integration of the Jing-Jin-Ji region faced new challenges during urbanization, and unified measures were applied to quantify the urban water demands and energy and food competition in the Jing-Jin-Ji region from 2003 to 2017. The index was used to evaluate the intensity of the competition for water for food and energy. The results indicated that from 2003 to 2017, the water footprint of grain production in the Jing-Jin-Ji region decreased from 30.984 billion m 3 to 21.36 billion m 3 , of which the blue water footprint decreased from 13.032 billion m 3 to 9.854 billion m 3 . The water footprint of energy production increased from 578 million m 3 to 1.175 billion m 3 . The competition relation between cities in the Jing-Jin-Ji region was obtained according to the competition index, and corresponding measures were identified according to different competition levels. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers in designing sustainable urban development strategies for cities facing similar challenges of water resource, energy, and food competition during rapid urbanization.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuan Liu & Lichuan Wang & Jiaqi Zhai & Yong Zhao & Haodong Deng & Xing Li, 2025. "Impact of Urbanization on Water Resource Competition Between Energy and Food: A Case Study of Jing-Jin-Ji," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:571-:d:1565920
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huang, Daohan & Li, Guijun & Chang, Yuan & Sun, Chengshuang, 2023. "Water, energy, and food nexus efficiency in China: A provincial assessment using a three-stage data envelopment analysis model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    2. Yue, Qiong & Guo, Ping, 2021. "Managing agricultural water-energy-food-environment nexus considering water footprint and carbon footprint under uncertainty," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    3. Liu, Yating & Chen, Bin, 2020. "Water-energy scarcity nexus risk in the national trade system based on multiregional input-output and network environ analyses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
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    1. Alicja Krzemińska & Anna Zaręba & Mariusz Adynkiewicz-Piragas & Haifeng Jia & María Guadalupe Alpuche Cruz & Luis Antonio Valle Cordero, 2025. "Underground Food Farms as a Climate-Friendly Alternative Form of Urban Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-29, October.

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