Two Contribution Paths of Carbon Neutrality: Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Sinks and Anthropogenic Carbon Emission Reduction—A Case of Chongqing, China

Luyi Qiu, Kunying Niu (), Wei He and Yaqi Hu
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Luyi Qiu: School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Kunying Niu: School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Wei He: School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Yaqi Hu: Institute of New Structural Economics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Carbon neutrality attracts worldwide attention due to its significance and urgency. Anthropogenic emission reduction and terrestrial ecosystem carbon sinks are the two main paths to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. However, in current studies, both are usually regarded as independent systems to conduct separate carbon function research. It is necessary to compare their contributions across sectors within the same emission reduction framework. Therefore, the paper takes Chongqing, China as an example and applies the carbon coefficient method to compare terrestrial ecosystem carbon sinks with anthropogenic carbon emissions in the same land structure and carbon sectors. Then, the scenario assumption is adopted to assess their contribution and impact in 2030 and 2060 to achieve carbon neutrality. Several conclusions are drawn: (1) Terrestrial ecosystem carbon sinks offset 3.45% of anthropogenic emissions in 2018, of which forest ecosystems contributed significantly. (2) Construction land played a decisive role in carbon emissions, which are constantly consolidated and deepened. Fossil energy is the main carbon source. (3) All scenarios can reduce emissions. The effect of energy structure transformation is the most prominent, but the benefits of expanding forest area and reducing waste disposal are small.

Keywords: carbon neutrality; terrestrial ecosystem; carbon sinks; anthropogenic carbon emissions; emission reduction; technical progress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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