Global impacts of energy demand on the freshwater resources of nations.

ABSTRACT: The growing geographic disconnect between consumption of goods, the extraction and processing of resources, and the environmental impacts associated with production activities makes it crucial to factor global trade into sustainability assessments. Using an empirically validated environmentally extended global trade model, we examine the relationship between two key resources underpinning economies and human well--being-energy and freshwater. A comparison of three energy sectors (petroleum, gas, and electricity) reveals that freshwater consumption associated with gas and electricity production is largely confined within the territorial boundaries where demand originates. This finding contrasts with petroleum, which exhibits a varying ratio of territorial to international freshwater consump

SUBMITTER: Holland RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4672781 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature