A global picture of resource nexus issues

The limited access to resources is increasingly perceived as a major constraint for sustainability. This challenge has sparked interest in the linkages or ‘nexus’ between resources, yet despite decades of research,... [ view full abstract ]

The limited access to resources is increasingly perceived as a major constraint for sustainability. This challenge has sparked interest in the linkages or ‘nexus’ between resources, yet despite decades of research, limitations in the breadth of studies remain. Recently constructed multiregional input-output (MRIO) databases, which cover the global economy and its use of resources in unprecedented detail, allow to systematically investigate resource use arising from production and consumption processes and garner new insights into nexus issues. This article addresses the question of how to prioritize such issues. Using the MRIO database EXIOBASE, we address the global resource nexus for five key resources: water, energy, land, metals and minerals. We propose a metric of ‘nexus strength’, which relies on linear goal programming to select and weight combinations of combined resource use by industry according to variables of interest. Key findings are (1) the identification of stronger and more complex nexuses through a consumption perspective, (2) the strong role of metals and minerals, and (3) the importance of the economic structure, domestic policy and resource endowments in regional differences. This complementary perspective offers the potential to guide analyses at finer sectorial and spatial scales, as well as regional planning and policy making.