Accounting and Decomposition of Energy Footprint: Evidence from 28 Sectors in China

Zixun Guo, Zhimei Gao () and Wenbin Zhang
Additional contact information
Zixun Guo: School of Economics and Management, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Zhimei Gao: School of Economics and Management, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Wenbin Zhang: School of Management, Xi’an University of Finance and Economics, Xi’an 710100, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-24

Abstract: This study aims to clarify the sectoral level of environmental pollution “rights, responsibilities and benefits” and to identify the sectoral pollution “background” to lay the foundation to achieving sustainable economic development. We use input output table data to account for and decompose the sectoral energy footprint. Firstly, based on the principles of producer responsibility and consumer responsibility, the consumption-based energy footprint (CBEF) and the responsible-based energy footprint (RBEF) are accounted for. Secondly, the sectoral energy footprint is decomposed based on energy consumption and responsibility and direct and indirect perspectives. The results show that (1) the distribution of the sectoral CBEF is characterized by a high sector concentration and large inter-sector differences. (2) The distribution of the sectoral RBEF is more balanced, and the difference is smaller. (3) There are also asymmetries and heterogeneity in trends between the sectoral CBEF and the sectoral RBEF. (4) The energy footprint generated by the production of intermediate-use products is an important source of the sectoral energy footprint (EF). The Chinese government should develop differentiated energy saving and emission reduction measures and optimize the sectoral structure to enhance sectoral cleanliness. Policy references for energy saving and emission reduction at the sectoral level and early achievement of carbon-peak and carbon-neutral targets are proposed.

Keywords: energy footprint; input output table; producer responsibility; consumer responsibility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/13148/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/13148/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:13148-:d:1230629

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().