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- Title
Analyses of impacts of China's international trade on its water resources and uses.
- Authors
Zhang, Z. Y.; Yang, H.; Shi, M. J.; Zehnder, A. J. B.; Abbaspour, K. C.
- Abstract
This study provides an insight into the impact of China's international trade of goods and services on its water resources and uses. Virtual water flows associated with China's international trade are quantified in an input-output framework. The analysis is scaled down to the sectoral and provincial levels to trace the origins and destinations of virtual water flows associated with the international trade. The results reveal that China is a net virtual water exporter of 4.7 x 1010 m³ year-1, accounting for 2.1% of its total water resources and 8.9% of the total water use. Water scarce regions tend to have higher percentages of virtual water export relative to their water resources and water uses. In the water scarce Huang-Huai-Hai region, the net virtual water export accounts for 7.9% of the region's water resources and 11.2% of its water uses. For individual sectors, major net virtual water exporters are those where agriculture provides raw materials in the initial process of the production chain and/or pollution intensity is high. The results suggest that China's economic gains from being a world "manufacture factory" have come at a high cost to its water resources and through pollution to its environment.
- Subjects
CHINA; INTERNATIONAL trade; WATER supply; WATER use; HYDRAULICS; WATER transfer; RAW materials
- Publication
Hydrology & Earth System Sciences Discussions, 2011, Vol 8, Issue 2, p3543
- ISSN
1812-2108
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5194/hessd-8-3543-2011