Work

Navigating resource constraints in the Yellow River Basin: Drivers and coupling dynamics of the Water-Land-Energy-Carbon nexus

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Facing critical resource depletion in the Yellow River Basin, this study establishes a unified framework to analyze the coupled interactions of Water, Land, Energy, and Carbon (WLEC). We quantified WLEC resource distribution, assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of coupling coordination across urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin, and identified the key drivers of spatial differentiation. The results reveal significant regional disparities: water resources are scarce, land is more evenly distributed, while energy consumption and carbon footprints vary considerably. The coordinated development levels rank as follows: Central Plains > Guanzhong Plain > Jinzhong urban agglomeration, showing an overall steady upward trend with a core coordination zone centered on Zhengzhou. Population and land-related factors were identified as the primary drivers of the system's coupling coordination, while economic scale and industrial structure exerted comparatively weaker impacts.

Source: Energy Nexus

DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100876