Abstract
Analysis of sectors’ emission effects is crucial for identifying key emission sectors and reducing carbon. Current literature for calculating sectors’ emission effects in China ignore intermediate demand. This might introduce inaccuracy into the analyzed results. To solve this gap, this paper used an alternative input–output method to analyze sectors’ emission effects in China. Firstly, it identifies the key emission sectors and their emission effect characteristics from 2005 to 2017. Then, the reasons for the changes in these sectors’ emission effects are analyzed. Lastly, emission effects were further decomposed so that the driving relationships of emissions among these sectors can be sorted out. The results show that the overall key emission sectors were metal smelting and processing and nonmetal mineral products. The backward-emission-dominant sectors were construction, chemical products, other services (such as finance, health and education), metal products, and so on. The forward-emission-dominant sectors were production and supply of electricity and heat, transportation, storage, postal, and telecommunications services. In 2017, transportation, storage, postal, and telecommunications services’ own final demand emissions and forward emissions accounted for 41.7% and 58.3%, respectively, of this sector’s direct emissions. Moreover, from 2005 to 2017, the main sector emission paths affecting the growth of China’s emissions shifted from manufacturing and construction industries to service industries. Accordingly, strategies for emission reduction, such as substituting pollution inputs, were proposed and analyzed. The research provides an important reference for the Chinese government to adopt appropriate measures to reduce carbon.
Highlights
Increasing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming have become points of consensus and challenges for all countries in the world
In 2017, transportation, storage, postal, and telecommunications services’ own final demand emissions and forward emissions accounted for 41.7% and 58.3%, respectively, of this sector’s direct emissions
Through calculating the average values of backward emissions (BEs), forward emissions (FEs), and own final demand emissions (OFDEs) indicators of 27 sectors, the identification method of key carbon emission sectors is as follows: (1) When a sector’s BE is more than the average of BE, and FE is more than the average of FE, this sector can be called the overall key emission sector
Summary
Increasing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming have become points of consensus and challenges for all countries in the world. China’s carbon emissions reached 5.40, 9.08, and 9.34 Gt (gigatons), respectively, in 2005, 2012, and 2017 [1,2]. To cope with the impact of climate warming, the Chinese government promised a carbon emission target that carbon emissions will be reduced per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 40–45% and 60–65% by 2020 and 2030, respectively, compared with the year 2005 [4]. Achieving these reduction goals will rely on effective emission mitigations in various sectors.
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