Carbon inequality at the sub-national scale: A case study of provincial-level inequality in CO2 emissions in China 1997–2007

Afton Clarke-Sather,Jiansheng Qu,Qin Wang,Jingjing Zeng,Yan Li

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.021

Afton Clarke-Sather, Jiansheng Qu + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.021

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Abstract

This study asks whether sub-national inequalities in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions mirror international patterns in carbon inequality using the case study of China. Several studies have examined global-level carbon inequality; however, such approaches have not been used on a sub-national scale. This study examines inter-provincial inequality in CO2 emissions within China using common measures of inequality (coefficient of variation, Gini Index, Theil Index) to analyze provincial-level data derived from the IPCC reference approach for the years 1997–2007. It decomposes CO2 emissions inequality into its inter-regional and intra-regional components. Patterns of per capita CO2 emissions inequality in China appear superficially similar to, though slightly lower than, per capita income inequality. However, decomposing these inequalities reveals different patterns. While inter-provincial income inequality is highly regional in character, inter-provincial CO2 emissions inequality is primarily intra-regional. While apparently similar, global patterns in CO2 emissions are not mirrored at the sub-national scale.

Highlights

Inequality between developed and developing regions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, has been among the most vexing problems in reaching international agreements on global climate change
We will test the veracity of this hypothesis by asking four questions: are per capita CO2 emissions higher in wealthier regions of China? Are levels of inequality in CO2 emissions similar to levels of inequality in gross domestic product (GDP)? Is the composition of measures of inequalities similar? And do these inequalities reflect patterns of regional inequality similar to those seen in GDP? We will examine these questions applying commonly used metrics of inequality to provincial level CO2 emissions data from China for the period 1997–2007 derived from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reference approach
Notwithstanding the aforementioned differences between global and national level energy markets, in this study we ask whether China’s internal GHG emissions disparities mirror those of the globe? We begin this analysis with four basic questions: are per capita GHG emissions higher in wealthier regions of China? Are levels of inequality in GHG emissions inequality similar to levels of inequality in GDP in China? Is the composition of inequalities similar? And do these inequalities reflect patterns of regional inequality similar to those seen in GDP?

Summary

Introduction

Inequality between developed and developing regions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, has been among the most vexing problems in reaching international agreements on global climate change. As a result, differing per capita CO2 emissions between wealthy and poor countries have become a major sticking point in global negotiations over CO2 emissions reduction. This article essays to shed light on the differences in per capita CO2 emissions between relatively wealthy and relatively poor regions within one country. When comparing CO2 emissions, most studies focus on per capita CO2 emissions because they are both readily comparable between countries of different sizes, and readily applicable to a policy goal of equality in CO2 emissions reduction burdens (Heil and Wodon, 1997, 2000)..

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