Decoupling Analysis of Carbon Emissions and Forest Area in China from 2004 to 2020

Shusen Zhu, Hui Sun (), Xuechao Xia and Zedong Yang
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Shusen Zhu: School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, No.666 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China
Hui Sun: School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, No.666 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China
Xuechao Xia: School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, No.666 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China
Zedong Yang: School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, No.666 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: As the largest ecological carbon sequestration systems on the Earth, forests play a significant role in reducing carbon dioxide, and countries around the world are actively expanding their forest areas. However, China’s carbon emissions and forest area have shown an upward trend, which has seriously hindered the implementation of forestry carbon sequestration projects. This paper analyzed the temporal variation, spatial distribution, and deviation degree of the forest area and carbon emissions in China from 2004 to 2020 by using a decoupling model and a coordination model. Firstly, according to the decoupling model, the national carbon emissions and forest area are negatively decoupled. At the provincial level, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Gansu have weak decoupling. Expansive link areas include Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Ningxia, and Xinjiang. The other 19 provinces show expansive negative decoupling. Secondly, according to the coordination model, national carbon emissions are coordinated to the forest area. Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guangdong are basically coordinated provinces. More coordinated provinces include Ningxia. The other 25 provinces are coordinated provinces. Finally, according to the comprehensive measurement model, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Hainan, Jilin, Anhui, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang are high-quality expansive negative decoupling provinces. Chongqing, Hunan, Tianjin, Shandong, Hebei, and Guangxi are moderate to strong expansive negative decoupling provinces. This study not only provides a new perspective for analyzing forest carbon sinks, but also provides theoretical guidance for enhancing the natural carbon sink capacity, helping to achieve global carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

Keywords: forest area; carbon emissions; decoupling; coordinated (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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