Research on the Spatial Network Characteristics and Synergetic Abatement Effect of the Carbon Emissions in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration

Xintao Li,Zaisheng Zhang,Jian Li,Dong Feng

doi:10.3390/su11051444

Xintao Li, Zaisheng Zhang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051444

Copy DOI

Abstract

Based on the carbon emission data in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration from 2007 to 2016, this paper used the method of social network analysis (SNA) to investigate the spatial correlation network structure of the carbon emission. Then, by constructing the synergetic abatement effect model, we calculated the synergetic abatement effect in the cities and we empirically examined the influence of the spatial network characteristics on the synergetic abatement effect. The results show that the network density first increased from 0.205 in 2007 to 0.263 in 2014 and then decreased to 0.205 in 2016; the network hierarchy fluctuated around 0.710, and the minimum value of the network efficiency was 0.561, which indicates that the network hierarchy structure is stern and the network has good stability. Beijing and Tianjin are in the center of the carbon emission spatial network and play important “intermediary” and “bridge” roles that can have better control over other carbon emission spatial spillover relations between the cities, thus the spatial network of carbon emissions presents a typical “center–periphery” structure. The synergetic abatement effect increased from −2.449 in 2007 to 0.800 in 2011 and then decreased to −1.653 in 2016; the average synergetic effect was −0.550. This means that the overall synergetic level has a lot of room to grow. The carbon emission spatial network has a significant influence on the synergetic abatement effect, while increasing the network density and the network hierarchy. Decreasing the network efficiency will significantly enhance the synergetic abatement effect.

Highlights

With the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere increasing, a series of problems, such as global warming, glacier melting, sea level rise, and so on, have been triggered, which pose a serious threat to the sustainable development of human society and the security of the ecology and the environment [1]
In order to more effectively demonstrate the structure of the spatial correlation network of carbon emissions of the urban agglomeration of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, this paper draws a spatial correlation network of carbon emissions in 2016 by using the visualization tool Net-draw from the software UCINET6.0 ( UCINET v6.0, Analytic Technologies, Lexington, KY, USA)
Based on the data of 13 cities in the urban agglomeration of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei from 2007 to 2014, this paper adopted the improved gravitational model to characterize the spatial correlation of carbon emissions in the urban agglomeration of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei

Summary

Introduction

With the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere increasing, a series of problems, such as global warming, glacier melting, sea level rise, and so on, have been triggered, which pose a serious threat to the sustainable development of human society and the security of the ecology and the environment [1]. In order to adhere to green and low-carbon development, it is an important policy for China to establish a new mechanism of regionally coordinated development with urban agglomerations as the main body [9] Against this background, this paper chose the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration as the research area, focusing on the spatial network characteristics of carbon dioxide emissions and the synergetic emission reduction effect. Based on the relational data and network analysis perspective, this took the spatial correlation of carbon emissions as the breakthrough point, analyzing the spatial network structure and the effect of its carbon emissions with the help of the social network analysis method This aimed at formulating emission reduction policies that are more in line with regional characteristics in the implementation of a regional coordinated development strategy in China, as well as providing a reference and basis for achieving synergetic emission reduction among regional cities

Methods

Results

Conclusion