Exploring the carbon inequality embodied in China’s interregional trade based on a human well-being equity perspective

Abstract

China’s interregional trade leads to interregional carbon inequality and impacts the flow and distribution of interregional human well-being. Few studies have been conducted that construct human well-being from a multidimensional perspective and explore the inequality of carbon emissions in interregional trade based on a human well-being equity perspective. This study applies a multiregional input‒output (MRIO) model to analyze the flow of carbon emissions and human well-being and capital between regions, explores the carbon inequality embodied in interregional trade based on the regional environmental inequality (REI) index, and finally proposes a shared responsibility scheme for carbon emissions and policy implications based on a human well-being equity perspective. The results demonstrate that the transfer of carbon emissions and human well-being through regional trade is realized through consumption. Different transfer paths of carbon emissions and human well-being lead to significant carbon inequality in interregional trade. Regions such as the West and North, which suffer more significant inequality in trade, receive carbon emissions mainly from carbon-intensive industries; regions such as the East coast and South coast, which benefit more from trade, transfer large amounts of carbon emissions by importing products from industrial sectors with a high carbon emission intensity and relatively low value and by acquiring more human well-being and capital. This study provides evidence regarding the current status of carbon inequality based on human well-being equity in China; fills the gap in existing research; and provides a reference for addressing the inequality of carbon emissions and human well-being and each type of capital between regions and formulating a fair and effective carbon reduction policy. This study provides an overall solution for sustainable development in China.