Spatial distribution pattern of embodied natural resources use in China and its relationship with socioeconomic development: From an exergetic perspective

Abstract

China is facing severe resource crisis, especially under the great regional disparities of resource endowment and economic development. Clarifying spatial distribution pattern of natural resources in China is critical for sustainable resource management. However, a unified assessment framework at regional level is still lacking. This study establishes a comprehensive framework by combining exergy accounting and multi-region input-output analysis to investigate embodied natural resources (ENR) utilization at regional level from 2012 to 2017. Tapio analysis and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index are applied to reveal decoupling states and identify driving factors. The results show that the eastern regions required more ENR than the western regions. ENR per unit GDP in the northern regions was larger than that in the southern regions, while ENR per capita in the middle Yellow River and the eastern regions was larger than the western regions. ENR demands in most regions decoupled from economic development during 2012–2017. Fixed investment intensity and economic development were the major contributors of ENR growth, while natural resources intensity and R&D efficiency were the major negative factors. Based on such results, this study provides substantial policy recommendations for different regions to alleviate their resource crises.