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Asia’s water scarcity challenge

The interconnections between climate change, WS, governance quality. This distinction sets this study apart
and various socioeconomic issues – such as political in the field. In addition, the present study quantifies how
strife, food security, and sustainable groundwater climate funding and efficient governance may influence
planning – pose serious global challenges. Agriculture, water stress, with implications for policy, especially
the cornerstone of many Asian economies, is particularly for national and international organizations designing
affected by WS, which in turn impacts food production, efficient water management systems.
livelihoods, and economic growth. In addition, rising
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sea levels and groundwater depletion threaten coastal 2. Literature review
areas and drinking water supplies, potentially leading
to increased risks of poverty, hunger, and waterborne The present study draws on resource dependency
diseases. Recognizing the urgency and importance of theory and institutional theory. According to resource
addressing WS, global attention has focused on water dependency theory, systems and organizations must rely
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access, allocation, and management, as these are on external resources to remain robust and sustainable.
fundamental for both human and ecosystem health. This theory emphasizes the importance of adaptive
Achieving some of the Sustainable Development resource management in the context of WS, highlighting
Goals requires access to sufficient and safe water. how renewable energy, agriculture, and government
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Nevertheless, in certain countries, especially those policies affect resource viability. Institutional theory
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under dictatorships, strict water restrictions may be examines how social and organizational standards
imposed to control the populace, exacerbating WS for affect behavior. This perspective is useful for evaluating
vulnerable individuals. To mitigate this, appropriate governance and policy frameworks aimed at providing
regulations and stringent laws must be enacted, and long-term solutions to WS. In recent years, research on
governments must initiate water-related projects and resource reliance and WS management has increased
awareness programs to promote water conservation significantly. Ahmad et al. examined how resource
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and prevent over-exploitation of water resources. With reliance and external economic constraints impact the
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growing concerns over climate change and the need for adoption of renewable energy in developing countries,
sustainable practices, efforts should be directed toward with their findings indicating that these adjustments led to
making the energy sector and water management more reduced water usage. Anser et al. stressed the necessity
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eco-friendly. Moreover, good governance, rule of of institutional frameworks for sustainable agriculture as a
law, anti-corruption measures, and accountability are means of alleviating environmental stress. These findings
essential for improving water resource management and support the theory that strong institutional frameworks
streamlining the energy sector. 8 and resource-reliance management may mitigate WS.
The present study identifies key research questions to Research on institutional quality and environmental policy
be addressed through detailed empirical testing. First, it illuminates the significance of governance in sustainable
explores the potential of integrated governance strategies resource management. Strong leadership is critical for
in mitigating WS, focusing on institutional factors that improving environmental policy implementation, thereby
contribute to ineffective water resource management. reducing resource loss and enhancing sustainability. 15
Second, it examines the relationship between the use of The present study applies institutional theory
renewable energy sources and WS in Asia, considering to examine how effective governance mediates the
the interdependencies between water, energy, food, and relationship between renewable energy adoption
ecosystems. Third, the study investigates the effects of and agricultural sustainability in the context of water
POPG on WS, acknowledging that a growing population constraints. Rao et al. examined how institutional
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impacts water demand, consumption habits, and overall reforms could accelerate the adoption of renewable
water availability. energy and the role of governance in addressing
While the literature on water-related issues is resource limitations. Their research investigates the
extensive, there is limited research on how governance widespread use of renewable energy sources to reduce
indicators, climate policy, and food security measures can water stress. Malla et al. found that renewable energy
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reduce water stress. 9,10 This study uses the generalized sources help minimize water consumption in power
method of moments (GMM) estimator with panel data generation, particularly in water-scarce regions. Yang
from 39 Asian nations, spanning 1996 to 2022, to identify and Solangi stressed the necessity for coordinated
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causal links between climate adaptation techniques conservation measures, focusing on the intersection of
in water management, agricultural sustainability, and renewable energy, WS, and sustainable agriculture.

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 141 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025090057