Household carbon emission differences and their driving factors in Northwestern China

Abstract

Based on interview survey data, we used the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, the Peoples Republic of China National Greenhouse Gas Inventory(2007), input-output analysis, and life cycle assessment methodology to assess household CO2 emissions in Northwestern China. The result revealed the status and patterns of household CO2 emissions in this area: (1) average annual household CO2 emission per capita is 2.05 tons CO2 per year; (2) the majority of household CO2 emissions came from coal, electricity and food consumption, in which direct CO2 emissions (related to consumption of fossil fuel) accounted for 39.29 percent, and indirect emissions comprised 60.71 percent; (3) household CO2 emission was mainly affected by geographic environment, family size and income, and household age structure; (4) amounts, sources and driving factors of CO2 emission varied between urban and rural households, as well as between households in different provinces.