Modeling the carbon-energy-water nexus in a rapidly urbanizing catchment: A general equilibrium assessment

Qiong Su; Hancheng Dai; Yun Lin; Huan Chen; Raghupathy Karthikeyan

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.07.071

Modeling the carbon-energy-water nexus in a rapidly urbanizing catchment: A general equilibrium assessment

J Environ Manage. 2018 Nov 1:225:93-103. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.07.071. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Authors

Qiong Su¹, Hancheng Dai², Yun Lin³, Huan Chen⁴, Raghupathy Karthikeyan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Water Management & Hydrological Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
² Institute of Environment and Economy, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. Electronic address: dai.hancheng@pku.edu.cn.
³ Departments of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
⁴ Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, SC 29442, USA.
⁵ Department of Water Management & Hydrological Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.

PMID: 30075307
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.07.071

Abstract

Energy and water systems are interdependent and have complex dynamic interactions with the socio-economic system and climate change. Few tools exist to aid decision-making regarding the management of water and energy resources at a watershed level. In this study, a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model and System Dynamics and Water Environmental Model (SyDWEM) were integrated (CGE-SyDWEM) to predict future energy use, CO₂ emissions, economic growth, water resource stress, and water quality change in a rapidly urbanizing catchment in China. The effects of both the CO₂ mitigation strategies and water engineering measures were evaluated. CO₂ mitigation strategies have the potential to reduce 46% CO₂ emissions and 41% energy use in 2025 compared with reference scenario. CO₂ mitigation strategies are also found to be effective in promoting industrial structure adjustment by decreasing the output of energy- and water-intensive industries. Accordingly, it can alleviate local water stress and improve water environment, including a 4.1% reduction in both domestic water use and pollutant emissions, a 16.8% water demand reduction in the labor-intensive industry sector, and 4.2% and 4.4% decrease in BOD₅ and NH₃-N loads in all industrial sectors, respectively. It is necessary to implement water engineering measures to further alleviate water resource stress and improve water quality. This study improves the understanding of the feedbacks of CO₂ abatement on water demand, pollutant discharges, and water quality improvement. The integrated model developed in this study can be used to aid energy, carbon, and water policy makers to understand the complicated synergistic effects of proposed CO₂ mitigation strategies on water demand and pollution emissions, and to design more effective policies and measures to ensure energy and water security in the future.

Keywords: CO(2) emission control in China; Computable General Equilibrium (IMED|CGE); Energy-water-carbon nexus; Engineering measures; Water quality; integrated modeling.

MeSH terms

Carbon Dioxide
Carbon*
China
Climate Change*
Water
Water Resources*

Substances

Water
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon