Decomposition of Energy-Induced Carbon Emissions in the Construction Industry of China

Abstract

With the rapid development of the global economy, the amount of China’s carbon emission has been increasing consistently in a high speed, causing huge environment problems. The construction industry, as the leading pillar of the national economic and social development, accounts for a large proportion of the total carbon emissions in China. Several calculation methods have been used to calculate carbon emissions. However, the main influencing factors need to be found to reduce carbon emissions. In this paper, the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) technique is used to decompose the energy-induced carbon emissions of the construction industry into four factors: construction areas, construction investment efficiency (output value per unit), energy intensity, and carbon intensity. Based on IPCC carbon emission factors and data from Chinese Energy Statistical Yearbooks and Chinese Construction Industry Statistical Yearbooks, the factors of energy-induced carbon emissions in China were decomposed with LMDI method and Kaya equation. Proper countermeasures are proposed to reduce the energy-induced carbon emissions of the construction industry in China.