Embodied Energy Use in China's Transportation Sector: A Multi-Regional Input-Output Analysis.

Jing Li,Hong Fang,Siran Fang,Zhiming Zhang,Pengyuan Zhang

doi:10.3390/ijerph18157873

Abstract

Energy transition in the transport sector (TS) is important for the goals of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 in China. A number of scholars have conducted studies to identify the potential energy savings of the TS and to improve its energy efficiency. Most of them concentrate on the direct energy use (EU). The indirect EU along the supply chain of the TS is often neglected. In this paper, the direct and indirect energy use, i.e., the embodied EU, of China’s TS is measured by applying a multi-regional input–output (MRIO) model, where they are investigated from both the provincial and sectoral perspectives. Results show that intermediate use is the major driving force for the TS’s embodied EU in China. From the sectoral level, supply from sectors such as petroleum refining and coking and demand from the service sector are the main reasons of the TS’s embodied EU. From the provincial perspective, the TS’s embodied EU is driven by low transportation technologies in most provinces located in central and western China. By contrast, abundant economic and social activities are the primary reason for the TS’s embodied EU in most provinces in eastern China. In the terms of interprovincial transfer, the energy embodied in the TS flows from resource-intensive provinces located in central and western China to resource-deficient provinces in eastern China. In addition, a close geographical connection exists in the transfer. Finally, several strategies from the sectoral and provincial levels are provided for policymakers.

Highlights

In the current Chinese economy, a number of hot issues need to be dealt with, such as key technologies, international trade, urban and rural planning, and energy
Intermediate use is the major driving factor for the embodied Energy consumption (EC) in most provinces. It means that the energy embodied in the transport sector is mainly driven by the transfer of products and services among sectors and provinces
The provinces in China are grouped into three regions based on the geographical positions and the level of economic development. Following this kind of classification, we find that most provinces in the eastern region have high ECs embodied in the transport sector (TS) and relatively low energy intensities, which can be attributed to active economic activities, large population, and advanced technologies

Summary

Introduction

In the current Chinese economy, a number of hot issues need to be dealt with, such as key technologies, international trade, urban and rural planning, and energy. 1234.7 million tons of standard coal equivalent (Mtce) in 1995 to 4356.5 Mtce in 2018, an increase of nearly 3.5 times. From 2002 to 2007, EC grew fast, its growth rate is more than 9% because of the rapid economic and urbanization development, as well as the rising population and resident income in China [1]. EC is that it can lead to a large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To reduce the GHG emissions, China has made several mitigation commitments. President Xi stated at the general debate of the UN General Assembly that China would strive to reach carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion