The coupling and coordination assessment of food-water-energy systems in China based on sustainable development goals

Food, water and energy are essential to sustainable development and their security greatly affects the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study analyzes the interactions among food system, water system and energy system in China based on SDG 2, SDG 6 and SDG 7, which is beneficial to promote coordinated development of resources and the attainment of SDGs at nation level. After establishing a comprehensive evaluation indicator system, the paper integrates the entropy method with the hierarchical analysis process to assign weight to indicators, and then uses the coupling coordination model to quantitatively evaluate the coordinated development level of SDG 2 on food system, SDG 6 on water system and SDG 7 on energy system. The results show that: (1) In general, the comprehensive evaluation index of 2010–2020 shows an increasing trend over time and the coupling degree maintains a high level. (2) The coupling coordination degree also maintains a good trend, and transitions from primary coordination to good coordination. (3) The development level of SDG 6 on water system and SDG 7 on energy system still lags behind that of SDG 2 on food system, therefore improving the utilization efficiency of water and energy contributes to promoting sustainable development.