Grey water footprint for global energy demands

doi:10.1007/s11707-019-0760-1

Front. Earth Sci.

2020, Vol. 14

Issue (1) : 201-208 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-019-0760-1

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Grey water footprint for global energy demands

Jing MING^1,^2,³, Xiawei LIAO^4,⁵(

), Xu ZHAO⁶

¹. Chengdu University of Information Technology, School of Atomospheic Sciences, Chengdu 610225, China
². Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
³. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
⁴. School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
⁵. College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
⁶. Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

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Abstract

With a Multi-Regional Input-Output model, this study quantifies global final energy demands’ grey water footprint (GWF) based on the latest available data. In 2009, 9.10 km³ of freshwater was required to dilute the pollutants generated along the life-cycle supply chain of global energy final demands to concentrations permitted by relevant environmental regulations. On a national level, final energy demands in China, USA, India, Japan, and Brazil required the largest GWF of 1.45, 1.19, 0.79, 0.51, and 0.45 km³ respectively, while European countries have the highest energy demands GWF per capita. From the producer perspective, the largest GWF was generated in BRIC countries, i.e., Russia (1.54 km³), China (1.35 km³), India (0.92 km³) and Brazil (0.56 km³) to support global final energy demands. Because of global trading activities, a country or region’s final energy demands also give rise to water pollutants beyond its territorial boundaries. Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg, and Malta almost entirely rely on foreign water resources to dilute water pollutants generated to meet their final energy demands. Energy demands in BRIC countries have the least dependency on external water resources. On a global average, 56.9% of GWF for energy demands was generated beyond national boundaries. Energy demands in the global north are inducing water pollutions in the global south.

Keywords water-energy nexus water pollution water footprint multi-regional input-output analysis

Corresponding Author(s): Xiawei LIAO

Just Accepted Date: 19 July 2019 Online First Date: 23 September 2019 Issue Date: 24 March 2020

Cite this article:

Jing MING,Xiawei LIAO,Xu ZHAO. Grey water footprint for global energy demands[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2020, 14(1): 201-208.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-019-0760-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2020/V14/I1/201

Fig.1 National (per capita) Energy Demands GWF

Fig.2 Sectoral distribution of energy demands GWF by destination and origin country/region

Fig.3 External GWF for national energy demands

Fig.4 International GWF transfers for final energy demands

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