Saving less in China facilitates global CO2 mitigation

Chen Lin, Jianchuan Qi, Sai Liang (), Cuiyang Feng, Thomas O. Wiedmann, Yihan Liao, Xuechun Yang, Yumeng Li, Zhifu Mi and Zhifeng Yang
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Chen Lin: Renmin University of China
Jianchuan Qi: Beijing Normal University
Sai Liang: Beijing Normal University
Cuiyang Feng: Beijing Normal University
Thomas O. Wiedmann: The University of New South Wales
Yihan Liao: Renmin University of China
Xuechun Yang: Beijing Normal University
Yumeng Li: Beijing Normal University
Zhifeng Yang: Beijing Normal University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Transforming China’s economic growth pattern from investment-driven to consumption-driven can significantly change global CO2 emissions. This study is the first to analyse the impacts of changes in China’s saving rates on global CO2 emissions both theoretically and empirically. Here, we show that the increase in the saving rates of Chinese regions has led to increments of global industrial CO2 emissions by 189 million tonnes (Mt) during 2007–2012. A 15-percentage-point decrease in the saving rate of China can lower global CO2 emissions by 186 Mt, or 0.7% of global industrial CO2 emissions. Greener consumption in China can lead to a further 14% reduction in global industrial CO2 emissions. In particular, decreasing the saving rate of Shandong has the most massive potential for global CO2 reductions, while that of Inner Mongolia has adverse effects. Removing economic frictions to allow the production system to fit China’s increased consumption can facilitate global CO2 mitigation.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15175-2

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