Abstract

Sustainable development is critical to China, and may be especially salient for two of the most significant regions of economic development in China, the Pearl and Yangtze River Deltas. China’s economy has been growing at 8-10% for more than a decade. However, critically, air and water quality in Chinese cities are declining. Additionally, the country suffers from a chronic water shortage because of the size of the population and rapid economic development. When we compare water usage in the different regions of the Yangtze and Pearl River Deltas, consumption is higher in the Yangtze River Estuary versus the Pearl River Basin. However, Yangtze River Estuary is more efficient because lower water consumption yields higher economic output, on a per capita basis. Suggestions are made to help reduce China’s water footprint.