"Energy-Water-Carbon" Nexus And Collaborative Utilization In The Yellow River Basin Under The "Dual Carbon" Goals

In 2020,China explicitly proposed the"Dual Carbon"goals,in which energy consumption,water resource utilization,and CO₂ emissions are three important environmental strategic elements.As an important energy base in China,the Yellow River Basin is facing increasingly prominent conflicts between growing energy demand and water resource scarcity,as well as increasing carbon emissions,leading to greater pressure for resource and environmental harmony.Improving water resource utilization efficiency,promoting energy transformation,and alleviating the pressure of climate change have become inevitable trends for the Yellow River Basin to achieve ecological protection and high-quality development.Therefore,it is necessary to study the coupling and collaborative utilization of"energy-water-carbon"in the Yellow River Basin.This paper uses a multi-regional input-output model,social network analysis,coupling coordination model,and multi-objective optimization model to study the coupling and collaborative utilization of"energy-water-carbon"in the Yellow River Basin.First,the current status of"energy-water-carbon"in the Yellow River Basin in2002,2007,2012,and 2017 was preliminarily understood.Second,the"energy-water-carbon"footprint was calculated using an input-output model.Then,the coupling situation of the three elements was analyzed by constructing the spatial network structure of"energy-water-carbon"and calculating the coupling coordination.Next,the NSGA-II algorithm was used for scenario simulation and analysis of the collaborative utilization of"energy-water-carbon."Finally,reference suggestions are proposed.The main conclusions of this article are as follows:（1）From 2002 to 2017,the annual increase rates of water resource utilization,energy consumption,and carbon emissions in the Yellow River basin were 528 million m³,64.81 million tons of standard coal,and 15.01 million tons,respectively.Shandong is the largest province in terms of water usage,energy consumption,and carbon emissions,while Qinghai has relatively lower values.In addition,the agricultural sector accounts for 66.31%of the total water resource utilization in the Yellow River basin,and the energy consumption and carbon emissions of the secondary industry account for89.96%and 92.51%of the total in the region,respectively.（2）The Yellow River Basin is in a state of virtual water net inflow,net implicit energy,and net implicit carbon outflow.The net virtual water import shows a"V"-shaped trend,while the net implicit energy and carbon outflow show an increasing trend.Among them,the"energy-water-carbon"footprint mainly flows from the upstream and middle reaches to the downstream.In addition,the agriculture sector（AG）has the largest virtual water footprint,while the mining industry（MI）,chemical industry（CI）,petroleum processing and coking（PC）,steel and non-ferrous metal smelting and processing industry（SNF）,as well as the production and supply of electricity,heat,gas,and water（EGGW）are industries with higher energy and carbon footprints.（3）The spatial network correlation of"energy-water-carbon"footprint in the Yellow River Basin is low,with poor stability and insufficient rationalization and balance.From 2002 to 2017,the coupling and coordination level of"energy-water-carbon"in the Yellow River Basin gradually shifted from high-quality coordination to severe imbalance.Among them,seven industrial sectors,including the motor and home appliance manufacturing industry（MH）,textile industry（TI）,construction industry（CT）,metal products industry（MP）,transportation equipment manufacturing industry（TE）,wood processing and furniture manufacturing industry（WF）,and communication equipment and electronic computer manufacturing industry（CE）,have been in a state of severe imbalance in terms of"energy-water-carbon"coupling and coordination level throughout the study period.（4）Under the goal coordinated policy control of"energy-water-carbon",adjusting the industrial structure can achieve the following reductions:agriculture,forestry,animal husbandry,and fishery-3.05%,mining-3.10%,light textile industry-3.13%,resource processing industry-3.17%,machinery and electronic manufacturing industry-3.24%,production and supply of electricity,heat,gas,and water-3.23%,construction industry-3.20%,transportation industry-2.99%,and other service industries-3.14%.This can achieve a reduction of water consumption by 20.68%,energy consumption by21.75%,and CO₂emissions by 21.25%,which meets the relevant policy requirements.Based on the above conclusions,this article proposes the following recommendations for the coordinated development of"energy-water-carbon"in the Yellow River Basin:promote cross-regional"energy-water-carbon"supply chain,create a regional cooperation governance and responsibility system framework;improve the regional management of industry supply chains,optimize effective links between technology and resources;based on advantages,coordinate layout and implement multi-sectoral joint governance;actively engage in climate change multi-party cooperation,promote collaborative efficiency in water conservation,energy saving and emission reduction.The research results of this article can provide decision-making reference for reducing the"energy-water-carbon"footprint in the Yellow River Basin,coordinating the management of"energy-water-carbon"relationships,and achieving "Dual Carbon" goals.