Exploring Potential Pathways toward Energy-Related Carbon Emission Reduction in Heavy Industrial Regions of China: An Input–Output Approach

Jingyao Peng, Yidi Sun, Junnian Song and Wei Yang
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Jingyao Peng: College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, C128 Tangaoqing Building, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Yidi Sun: College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, C128 Tangaoqing Building, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Junnian Song: College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, C128 Tangaoqing Building, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Wei Yang: College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, C128 Tangaoqing Building, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: It is a very urgent issue to reduce energy-related carbon emissions in China. The three northeastern provinces (Heilongjiang (HLJ), Jilin (JL), and Liaoning (LN)) are typical heavy industrial regions in China, playing an important role in the national carbon emission reduction target. In this study, we analyzed the energy consumption, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions, and CO 2 emission intensity of each sector in the three regions, and we compared them with the national level and those of China’s most developed province Guangdong (GD). Then, based on an input–output (I–O) framework, linkage analysis of production and CO 2 emission from sector–system and sector–sector dimensions was conducted. The results showed that the three regions accounted for about 1/10 of China’s energy consumption and 1/6 of China’s CO 2 emissions in 2012. In addition, the level of energy structure, CO 2 emission intensity, and sectoral structure lagged behind China’s average level, much lower than those for GD. According to the sectoral characteristics of each region and unified backward/forward linkages of production and CO 2 emissions, we divided sectoral clusters into those whose development was to be encouraged and those whose development was to be restricted. The results of this paper could provide policy–makers with reference to exploring potential pathways toward energy-related carbon emission reduction in heavy industrial regions.

Keywords: energy consumption; CO 2 emissions; input–output analysis; sector linkage analysis; heavy industrial regions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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