Evaluation of Carbon Emission and Carbon Contribution Capacity Based on the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region of China

Abstract

In 2020, during the 75th United Nations General Assembly, China proposed the goal of “achieving a carbon peak by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060”. The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region is the largest carbon emission metropolitan area in China. Its energy consumption and carbon emission status means the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region shoulders the important task of low-carbon transformation. Only by achieving a “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality” can the economy of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region be sustainable. Based on this, we analyzed and comprehensively evaluated the complete ability of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region to achieve carbon neutrality in 2008–2020, that is, carbon achievement ability, status, and intensity of energy consumption and carbon emissions based on the CRITIC weighting method. The results show that the energy consumption and carbon emission capacity of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region have basically formed a step difference. On this basis, the evaluation of carbon contribution capacity also shows that Hebei Province, as a weak link in the coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, bears the main responsibility of improving carbon contribution capacity and thus achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. This research study suggests that intra-regional cooperation should be strengthened to achieve coordinated development. At the end of the paper, policy suggestions for regional cooperation are given from four aspects: government, industry, low-carbon technology, and regional carbon sinks.