Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal Mining
The water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus is an established framework that allows for a more holistic, systemic and integrated analysis of resources and territorial planning. The main objective of this study was to apply the WELF nexus approach to assess the environmental impacts from coal mining. Dat...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Reginaldo Geremias Naoki Masuhara |
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| description | The water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus is an established framework that allows for a more holistic, systemic and integrated analysis of resources and territorial planning. The main objective of this study was to apply the WELF nexus approach to assess the environmental impacts from coal mining. Data on the water resource, electricity sector, food production and land occupation in the coal region of the Urussanga River basin (Brazil) were described and compared with the area without the coal industry (Canoas/Pelotas basin, Brazil). Indicators evaluating reliability, robustness, equilibrium and diversity (Shannon index-H) were used to evaluate the impacts of mining on the WELF system. The results indicate that coal provides socioeconomic development in the region; however, it has several negative environmental effects. WELF indicators showed that the Urussanga basin has less robustness in the subsystem of water consumption per capita (0.19), installed electrical capacity (0.01) and agricultural production per capita (0.22) compared to Canoas/Pelotas at 0.73, 1.0 and 1.0, respectively. The basin also presented lower diversity in the water consumption sector (H = 0.81) and in the variety of agricultural products (H = 1.58) compared to Canoas/Pelotas (H = 1.0; H = 1.69, respectively). It was concluded that coal mining can affect the WELF system globally, revealing the need to propose alternatives to prevent and mitigate its effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d499d08aa4184240948ffaa4c072dd30 |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d499d08aa4184240948ffaa4c072dd302025-08-20T02:45:56ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-06-01147136010.3390/land14071360Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal MiningReginaldo Geremias0Naoki Masuhara1Department of Energy and Sustainability, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Araranguá 88906-472, BrazilSchool of Human Science and Environment, University of Hyogo, Himeji 670-0836, JapanThe water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus is an established framework that allows for a more holistic, systemic and integrated analysis of resources and territorial planning. The main objective of this study was to apply the WELF nexus approach to assess the environmental impacts from coal mining. Data on the water resource, electricity sector, food production and land occupation in the coal region of the Urussanga River basin (Brazil) were described and compared with the area without the coal industry (Canoas/Pelotas basin, Brazil). Indicators evaluating reliability, robustness, equilibrium and diversity (Shannon index-H) were used to evaluate the impacts of mining on the WELF system. The results indicate that coal provides socioeconomic development in the region; however, it has several negative environmental effects. WELF indicators showed that the Urussanga basin has less robustness in the subsystem of water consumption per capita (0.19), installed electrical capacity (0.01) and agricultural production per capita (0.22) compared to Canoas/Pelotas at 0.73, 1.0 and 1.0, respectively. The basin also presented lower diversity in the water consumption sector (H = 0.81) and in the variety of agricultural products (H = 1.58) compared to Canoas/Pelotas (H = 1.0; H = 1.69, respectively). It was concluded that coal mining can affect the WELF system globally, revealing the need to propose alternatives to prevent and mitigate its effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1360water–energy–land–food nexuscoal miningriver basins assessmentBrazil |
| spellingShingle | Reginaldo Geremias Naoki Masuhara Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal Mining Land water–energy–land–food nexus coal mining river basins assessment Brazil |
| title | Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal Mining |
| title_full | Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal Mining |
| title_fullStr | Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal Mining |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal Mining |
| title_short | Water–Energy–Land–Food Nexus to Assess the Environmental Impacts from Coal Mining |
| title_sort | water energy land food nexus to assess the environmental impacts from coal mining |
| topic | water–energy–land–food nexus coal mining river basins assessment Brazil |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1360 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT reginaldogeremias waterenergylandfoodnexustoassesstheenvironmentalimpactsfromcoalmining AT naokimasuhara waterenergylandfoodnexustoassesstheenvironmentalimpactsfromcoalmining |