Household CO<sub>2</sub> emissions: An assessment based a large sample survey in China

Abstract

Household consumption and energy usage have increased with the improved per capita income and advancing living standard. CO2 emissions are also increasing from the household sector including direct CO2 emissions from energy usage and indirect CO2 emissions from household consumption. For example, household appliances, electronic products and private cars are increasingly widespread, which brings higher CO2 emissions from households. At the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, China, as the largest developing country and largest total emitting country in the world, promised to reduce its carbon emission intensity (CO2 emissions per GDP) in the year 2020 by 40%–45% compared to 2005. China also promised to achieve its carbon emissions peak value around 2030 at Paris Climate Change Conference. The analysis of determinants of household CO2 emissions is a significant way to give effective low-carbon measures for governments and energy policy-makers. Based on survey data of household CO2 emissions (HCEs) in Mainland China, we calculated HCEs at the per household and per capita levels, and evaluated the carbon emissions structure level both in urban and rural areas in eight research regions by using IPCC Reference Approach and Input-Output Analysis and Consumer Lifestyle Approach. Our conclusions are as follows: (1) China’s HCEs are very low both from per household and per capita perspectives, at 8.05 t CO2/household and 2.47 t CO2/person, respectively. (2) There are great differences on HCEs between urban and rural areas in China. HCEs per household in urban and rural areas are 9.54 and 6.43 t CO2, respectively. HCEs per household in urban areas are 1.48 times as much as in rural areas. HCEs per capita in urban and rural areas are 3.25 and 1.78 t CO2, respectively. HCEs per capita in urban areas are 1.82 times as much as in rural areas. (3) There are great regional differences in HCEs. Southwest China has the lowest HCEs both per household and per capita, which are 6.89 t CO2/household and 2.06 t CO2/person, respectively. Shanxi-Shaanxi- Inner Mongolia Area has the greatest per household HCEs, which are 9.52 t CO2/household. Northeast China has the greatest per capita HCEs, which are 3.15 t CO2/person. (4) There are great differences in HCEs between direct and indirect forms of emissions. Comparing HCEs per household from direct energy usage and indirect household consumption, direct HCEs accounted for 23.51%, 15.80% and 35.88% in the all of China, urban areas, and rural areas, respectively. Indirect household consumption contributed to the balances of HCEs. (5) There are great differences in HCEs between different carbon emissions sources. Comparing HCEs from the point of carbon emissions, health care, heating, coal, food and electricity were the main contributors to HCEs both in the whole region, and both urban and rural areas. The results revealed the current situation and the development trend of HCEs both in urban areas and rural areas in China, as well as an analysis of both regional and urban/rural differences in HCEs. Our results show that different consuming behaviors played different roles in rising HCEs. Low-carbon policies, including enhancing the residents’ awareness on energy saving and carbon emission reduction, encouraging multi-generation members to live together and mastering green and low-carbon construction systems, were provided, which also gave data support and scientific evidence for achieving 40%–45% reduction targets in 2020 and the peak value targets around 2030.