Research on the gravity movement and mitigation potential of Asia's carbon dioxide emissions

Abstract

Asia has become a major emitter of carbon emissions. To better achieve emission reduction targets, it is necessary to study the characteristics of carbon dioxide emissions in Asia and their emission reduction potential. Firstly, the gravity movement of Asia's carbon dioxide emissions and its leading forces are explored. Then, the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index method is applied to find the driving factors governing carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, this paper establishes a theoretical model of carbon dioxide emission reduction. At last, the influencing factors are utilized to construct a decoupling index, which is used to describe the dependence of economic development on carbon dioxide emissions. The gravity center for Asia's carbon dioxide emissions was an overall movement towards southwest. However, the gravity center for carbon dioxide emissions per capita was an overall movement towards the southeast. The energy intensity effect was the most factor decreasing Asia's carbon dioxide emissions. Only five countries achieved theoretical reduction of carbon dioxide emissions over 2000–2015. However, three countries were failed to achieve the theoretical reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in this period. The economic development in most east Asia and southeast Asia countries was less dependent on energy-related carbon dioxide emissions over the period 2000–2015.