Page 148 - AJWEP-v22i2

Anser, et al.

Du Plessis notes that South Africa is among the various crops. Fang et al. examined the water footprint
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regions experiencing significant water stress, with global and virtual water trade of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
water shortages projected by 2050. The study advocates nations, noting that economic and population expansion
for water policy reforms, expanding monitoring has led to an increased water footprint. The study
networks, and fostering water diplomacy among emphasized the importance of collaboration on water
stakeholders to effectively address these challenges. resource management to address WS challenges within
Scanlon et al. considered the interconnection between the BRI.
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groundwater and surface water while analyzing trends Based on the existing literature, the present study
in water resource development. Their study revealed proposes several hypotheses related to WS and
substantial variations in total water storage across governance challenges in Asian countries:
regions over the past century, with climate variability and H : Government regulatory quality (RQ) and
human activities, particularly irrigation, significantly 1 effectiveness are crucial in mitigating climate risks
influencing these changes. They recommended the and addressing WS challenges in Asian countries.
implementation of diverse management techniques to H : Mitigating climate hazards and resolving water
enhance water resource resilience. 2 shortages in Asia can be achieved through the
Richter assessed water use in 28 utilities serving implementation of renewable energy sources and
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23 million people reliant on rivers. Despite a 24% climate funding initiatives.
increase in population, over half of the cities reduced H : Increasing populations, unsustainable agricultural
per capita water use. However, water consumption in 3 practices, and land degradation exacerbate drought
the Colorado River Basin increased by 1%. Suna et al. conditions in Asia.
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highlighted the worsening water availability in India
due to climate change, which is negatively impacting This research aims to illuminate the region’s water
agriculture and rural livelihoods. Effective irrigation deficit and sustainable water resource management
management was emphasized as a solution to these issues by evaluating these hypotheses.
challenges. Liu et al. quantified agricultural WS in While there is considerable research on the
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China using the agricultural WS index (AWSI), noting economic factors, governance, and WS in Asian
that climate change could increase the value of the nations, there remains a gap in the literature concerning
AWSI, especially in Inner Mongolia. They suggested the effectiveness of specific government initiatives
improving irrigation efficiency as a potential solution. in this context. 29,30 Previous studies have outlined the
Harik et al. used agent-based modeling (ABM) to high-level role of governance but have not sufficiently
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predict farmers’ decisions under potential WS scenarios explored how governance can mitigate climate change
induced by climate change. Their study found that farmers and address water shortages. 31,32 In addition, early studies
primarily adopted adaptive actions, such as switching have overlooked the potential of renewable energy to
crops or seeking alternative water sources, under low- alleviate WS. 33,34 Renewable energy technologies may
to-moderate water constraints. However, severe water improve water availability and usage, yet the literature
shortages led many farmers to cease farming, urbanize has not adequately addressed this relationship. 35,36
their lands, or leave them fallow. Including social For sustainable resource management, it is important
influences in the ABM reduced adaptability, resulting to explore the relationship between renewable energy
in increased land selling or abandonment in response to consumption (REC) and water shortages in Asia. While
WS. Essaber et al. focused on climate project funding climate funds have been mentioned, their usage and
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in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. They identified local effectiveness in solving water shortages have not been
and international funding sources and advocated for an fully examined. 37,38 A detailed review of the impact
integrated financing approach involving all actors to and efficiency of climate funding in mitigating water
effectively combat climate change. Cao et al. introduced shortages would significantly contribute to the field.
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a methodology to analyze the Virtual Water Footprint in Moreover, the interconnectedness of water shortages,
Chinese provinces, highlighting strategies for reducing POPG, crop yields, and agricultural land degradation
agricultural water footprints and alleviating national (AGLD) requires further investigation. Understanding
water stress. Moursy et al. compared drip and surface how these factors influence water availability and
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irrigation in the Nile Delta, finding drip irrigation to consumption patterns is essential for developing
be more effective in water use and conservation across sustainable water resource management strategies.

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 142 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025090057