Measurement of carbon emissions and responsibility sharing for the industrial sector in Zhejiang, China

Abstract

Carbon reduction is imperative for achieving carbon peaking and neutrality. Accordingly, it is important to determine which industrial sectors have more responsibility in this matter. Based on data from Zhejiang's input-output tables, this study applies the Input-Output method to measure and compare the carbon emissions of 42 industrial sectors in Zhejiang Province from 2002 to 2017, and then assesses the carbon emission attributes of each industrial sector, and ultimately determines the responsibility for carbon emission reduction from the perspectives of the producers and consumers. The results of the study show that direct carbon emissions and whole-process carbon emissions in Zhejiang increased continuously from 2002 to 2017, with carbon emission intensity first decreasing and then increasing. However, carbon emission intensity was much lower in 2017 than in 2002. Over time, the attributes of carbon emissions by sector changed little. Particularly, high-carbon sectors covered most of the energy supply sectors, low-carbon sectors were mostly tertiary-related, and pseudo-low-carbon sectors were mainly found in the productive services sector. In terms of carbon emission reduction responsibilities, there are large differences in emission reduction responsibilities between sectors, with the electricity and heat sectors bearing the largest responsibilities based on their production, consumption and total carbon emission reductions. The conclusions of this study can provide some data support for the further development of carbon peak and carbon neutral plans.