A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South Korea
Factors such as climate change, economic development, population growth, pandemics, and geopolitical instability threaten water, energy, and food (WEF) security, which consequently put sustainability at risk. However, studies that simultaneously consider WEF security and sustainability aspects still...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Communications |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/acfb61 |
| _version_ | 1827804981022949376 |
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| author | Daehan An |
| author_facet | Daehan An |
| author_sort | Daehan An |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Factors such as climate change, economic development, population growth, pandemics, and geopolitical instability threaten water, energy, and food (WEF) security, which consequently put sustainability at risk. However, studies that simultaneously consider WEF security and sustainability aspects still need improvement. This research aimed to build a sustainable WEF nexus framework and analyze the interrelationships among water consumption, electricity demand, food production, and ecological footprint, considering the Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and external factors of the WEF nexus. For the empirical analysis, this study employed the three-stage least squares method to identify synergies and trade-offs in the sustainable WEF nexus in South Korea using panel data from 2005 to 2019. The results indicated that rice production causes excessive use of agricultural water, thereby deteriorating water availability and quality. This phenomenon leads to scarce water resources and environmental degradation, which negatively impact energy production and sustainability. Although increased agricultural productivity through automation improves food security, it can pose a threat to energy security by increasing electricity demand and energy imports. The EKC hypothesis test revealed that environmental problems cannot be solved through economic development. However, the indicators related to WEF security influence environmental sustainability rather than economic growth. These results indicate that WEF security and sustainability can be improved simultaneously by maximizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs within a sustainable WEF nexus. Therefore, this research provides a roadmap for policymakers regarding efficient ways to improve environmental quality and WEF security. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:18:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b4ee609da55f403a944d5398822ab483 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-7620 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:18:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-b4ee609da55f403a944d5398822ab4832023-09-28T12:16:01ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Communications2515-76202023-01-015909501710.1088/2515-7620/acfb61A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South KoreaDaehan An0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9439-5698Global Environmental Policy Laboratory, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University , Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8501, JapanFactors such as climate change, economic development, population growth, pandemics, and geopolitical instability threaten water, energy, and food (WEF) security, which consequently put sustainability at risk. However, studies that simultaneously consider WEF security and sustainability aspects still need improvement. This research aimed to build a sustainable WEF nexus framework and analyze the interrelationships among water consumption, electricity demand, food production, and ecological footprint, considering the Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and external factors of the WEF nexus. For the empirical analysis, this study employed the three-stage least squares method to identify synergies and trade-offs in the sustainable WEF nexus in South Korea using panel data from 2005 to 2019. The results indicated that rice production causes excessive use of agricultural water, thereby deteriorating water availability and quality. This phenomenon leads to scarce water resources and environmental degradation, which negatively impact energy production and sustainability. Although increased agricultural productivity through automation improves food security, it can pose a threat to energy security by increasing electricity demand and energy imports. The EKC hypothesis test revealed that environmental problems cannot be solved through economic development. However, the indicators related to WEF security influence environmental sustainability rather than economic growth. These results indicate that WEF security and sustainability can be improved simultaneously by maximizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs within a sustainable WEF nexus. Therefore, this research provides a roadmap for policymakers regarding efficient ways to improve environmental quality and WEF security.https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/acfb61WEF nexusfood securityEKC hypothesiswater resourceswater securityenergy security |
| spellingShingle | Daehan An A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South Korea Environmental Research Communications WEF nexus food security EKC hypothesis water resources water security energy security |
| title | A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South Korea |
| title_full | A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South Korea |
| title_fullStr | A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South Korea |
| title_short | A simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water–energy–food nexus in South Korea |
| title_sort | simultaneous equations approach to analyze the sustainable water energy food nexus in south korea |
| topic | WEF nexus food security EKC hypothesis water resources water security energy security |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/acfb61 |
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