Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in Mega City in Developing Country: Patterns and Determinants Revealed by Hong Kong

Fei Wang, Changlong Sun, Si Chen, Qiang Zhou () and Changjian Wang ()
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Fei Wang: School of Resources and Planning, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou 510520, China
Changlong Sun: School of Economics and Management, Wenzhou University of Technology, Wenzhou 325000, China
Si Chen: School of Economics and Management, Wenzhou University of Technology, Wenzhou 325000, China
Qiang Zhou: School of Economics and Management, Wenzhou University of Technology, Wenzhou 325000, China
Changjian Wang: Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-25

Abstract: Cities serve as the primary arenas for achieving the strategic objectives of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality”. This study employed the LMDI method to systematically analyze the evolution trend of energy-related carbon emissions in Hong Kong and their influencing factors from 1980 to 2023. The main findings are as follows: (1) Hong Kong’s energy consumption structure remains dominated by coal and oil. Influenced by energy prices, significant shifts in this structure occurred across different periods. Imported electricity from mainland China, in particular, has exerted a promoting effect on the optimization of its energy consumption mix. (2) Economic output and population concentration are the primary drivers of increased carbon emissions. However, the contribution of economic growth to carbon emissions has gradually weakened in recent years due to a lack of new growth drivers. (3) Energy consumption intensity, energy consumption structure, and carbon intensity are the primary influencing factors in curbing carbon emissions. Among these, the carbon reduction impact of energy consumption intensity is the most significant. Hong Kong should continue to adopt a robust strategy for controlling total energy consumption to effectively mitigate carbon emissions. Additionally, it should remain vigilant regarding the potential implications of future energy price fluctuations. It is also essential to sustain cross-border energy cooperation, primarily based on electricity imports from the Pearl River Delta, while simultaneously expanding international and domestic supply channels for natural gas.

Keywords: energy-related carbon emission; total energy consumption; energy consumption structure; energy consumption intensity; Hong Kong; LMDI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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