Decoupling Energy, Water, and Food Resources Production from GHG Emissions: A Footprint Perspective Review of Africa from 1990 to 2017

Fabien Muhirwa; Lei Shen; Ayman Elshkaki; Kgosietsile Velempini; Hubert Hirwa; Shuai Zhong; Aderiana Mutheu Mbandi

LAPSE:2023.19131

Published Article

LAPSE:2023.19131

Decoupling Energy, Water, and Food Resources Production from GHG Emissions: A Footprint Perspective Review of Africa from 1990 to 2017

Fabien Muhirwa, Lei Shen, Ayman Elshkaki, Kgosietsile Velempini, Hubert Hirwa, Shuai Zhong, Aderiana Mutheu Mbandi

March 9, 2023

Abstract
Decoupling energy, water, and food (EWF) consumption and production from GHG emissions could be an important strategy for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 7 (Clean and Affordable Energy) in Africa. This study applies Tapio’s decoupling method to analyze the relationship between GHG emissions and EWF resources use in 15 African countries over the period 1990−2017. The results show a remarkable relationship, which includes the contamination of EWF by GHG emissions, that mostly exhibits unsatisfactory decoupling state to satisfactory decoupling over a period of several years. The decoupling of water and energy resources from GHG emissions in most countries of Africa has not been able to reach an excellent decoupling state or a strong positive decoupling state. This requires countries in Africa to support environmentally friendly water and energy infrastructures and to promote an integrated, mutually managed, whole resource interaction system. The study also highlights the importance of tracking sources of GHG emissions, whether within individual resource sector activities or across resources to each other.

Record ID

LAPSE:2023.19131

Keywords

Africa, economic growth, energy, water, food resource, greenhouse gas, Tapio decoupling method

Subject

Food & Agricultural Processes

Suggested Citation

Muhirwa F, Shen L, Elshkaki A, Velempini K, Hirwa H, Zhong S, Mbandi AM. Decoupling Energy, Water, and Food Resources Production from GHG Emissions: A Footprint Perspective Review of Africa from 1990 to 2017. (2023). LAPSE:2023.19131

Author Affiliations

Muhirwa F: Key Laboratory for Resource Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Departmen
Shen L: Key Laboratory for Resource Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Labor [ORCID]
Elshkaki A: Key Laboratory for Resource Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Labor [ORCID]
Velempini K: Environmental Education Unit, Faculty of Education, University of Botswana, Gaborone 45685, Botswana [ORCID]
Hirwa H: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [ORCID]
Zhong S: Key Laboratory for Resource Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Labor
Mbandi AM: Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui 170-90200, Kenya

Journal Name

Energies

Volume

14

Issue

19

First Page

6326

Year

2021

Publication Date

2021-10-03