Multi-regional input–output analysis for China’s regional CH₄ emissions

Abstract

China is the largest CH₄ emitter in the world. Given the importance of CH₄ in greenhouse gas emission inventories, the characteristics of China’s CH₄ emissions at different scales deserve to be fully understood. Presented in this paper is an interprovincial input–output embodiment analysis of China’s regional CH₄ emissions in 2007, based on the most recently available multi-regional input–output table, and relevant CH₄ emissions data. The results show that the eastern, central and western areas contribute to 48.2%, 28.6%, and 23.3% of the national total embodied emissions, respectively. Guangdong has the highest level of embodied CH₄ emissions among all of the 30 regions. The Agriculture sector produces the most embodied CH₄ emissions in final demand, followed by the Construction, Food Production and Tobacco Processing, and Other Service Activities sectors. Significant net transfers of embodied CH₄ emission flows are identified from the central and western areas to the eastern area via interregional trade. Shanxi is the largest interregional exporter of embodied CH₄ emissions. In contrast, Guangdong is the largest interregional importer. Energy activities, agricultural activities, and waste management comprise 65.6%, 30.7%, and 3.7% of the total embodied CH₄ emissions in interregional trade, respectively. By using consumption-based accounting principles, the emission magnitudes, per capita emissions, and emission intensities of most eastern regions increase remarkably, while those of some central and western regions decrease largely. To achieve regional CH₄ emission mitigation, comprehensive mitigation measures should be designed under consideration of regional transfer of emission responsibility.

Keywords

China’s CH₄ emissions / multi-regional input–output analysis / consumption-based emission accounting

References

[1] Andrew R, Forgie V (2008). A three-perspective view of greenhouse gas emission responsibilities in New Zealand. Ecol Econ, 68(1–2): 194–204

[2] Andrew R, Peters G P, Lennox J (2009). Approximation and regional aggregation in multi-regional input–output analysis for national carbon footprint accounting. Econ Syst Res, 21(3): 311–335

[3] Bastianoni S, Pulselli F M, Tiezzi E (2004). The problem of assigning responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions. Ecol Econ, 49(3): 253–257

[4] Blair P, Miller R E (1983). Spatial aggregation of multiregional input–output models. Environ Plan A, 15(2): 187–206

[5] Chang Y, Ries R J, Wang Y (2011). The quantification of the embodied impacts of construction projects on energy, environment, and society based on I–O LCA. Energy Policy, 39(10): 6321–6330

[6] Chen G Q, Chen H, Chen Z M, Zhang B, Shao L, Guo S, Zhou S Y, Jiang M M (2011). Low-carbon building assessment and multi-scale input–output analysis. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 16(1): 583–595

[7] Chen G Q, Chen Z M (2010). Carbon emissions and resources use by Chinese economy 2007: a 135-sector inventory and input–output embodiment. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(11): 3647–3732

[8] Chen G Q, Chen Z M (2011a). Greenhouse gas emissions and natural resources use by the world economy: ecological input–output modeling. Ecol Modell, 222(14): 2362–2376

[9] Chen G Q, Zhang B (2010). Greenhouse gas emissions in China 2007: inventories and input–output analysis. Energy Policy, 38(10): 6180–6193

[10] Chen H (2011a). Interregional systems accounting of energy and carbon emissions for China. Dissertation for Ph.D degree. Beijing: Peking University (in Chinese)

[11] Chen Z M (2011b). Analysis of embodied ecological endowment flow for the world economy. Dissertation for Ph.D degree. Beijing: Peking University (in Chinese)

[12] Chen Z M, Chen G Q (2011b). Embodied carbon dioxide emission at supra-national scale: a coalition analysis for G7, BRIC, and the rest of the world. Energy Policy, 39(5): 2899–2909

[13] Chen Z M, Chen G Q (2013a). Demand-driven energy requirement of world economy 2007: a multi-region input–output network simulation. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 18(7): 1757–1774

[14] Chen Z M, Chen G Q (2013b). Virtual water accounting for the globalized world economy: national water footprint and international virtual water trade. Ecol Indic, 28: 142–149

[15] Chen Z M, Chen G Q, Zhou J B, Jiang M M, Chen B (2010). Ecological input–output modeling for embodied resources and emissions in Chinese economy 2005. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(7): 1942–1965

[16] Cheng Y, Wang L, Zhang X (2011). Environmental impact of coal mine methane emissions and responding strategies in China. Int J Greenh Gas Control, 5(1): 157–166

[17] Chung W S, Tohno S, Shim S Y (2009). An estimation of energy and GHG emission intensity caused by energy consumption in Korea: an energy IO approach. Appl Energy, 86(10): 1902–1914

[18] Clarke-Sather A, Qu J S, Wang Q, Zeng J J, Li Y (2011). Carbon inequality at the sub-national scale: a case study of provincial-level inequality in CO₂ emissions in China 1997–2007. Energy Policy, 39(9): 5420–5428

[19] CSY (2008). China Statistical Yearbook 2008. Beijing: China Statistics Press (in Chinese)

[20] Davis S J, Caldeira K (2010). Consumption-based accounting of CO₂ emissions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 107(12): 5687–5692

[21] Dong Y L, Ishikawa M, Liu X B, Wang C (2010). An analysis of the driving forces of CO₂ emissions embodied in Japan–China trade. Energy Policy, 38(11): 6784–6792

[22] Du H, Guo J, Mao G, Smith A M, Wang X, Wang Y (2011). CO₂ emissions embodied in China–US trade: input–output analysis based on the emergy/dollar ratio. Energy Policy, 39(10): 5980–5987

[23] Du W (2006). Primary study on greenhouse gas-CH₄ emission from MSW landfill. Dissertation for Ph.D degree. Nanjing: Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (in Chinese)

[24] EPA (2006). EPA Report 430-R-06-003: global anthropogenic non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions: 1990–2020. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/economics/downloads/GlobalAnthroEmissionsReport.pdf.

[25] Feng K, Siu Y L, Guan D, Hubacek K (2012). Analyzing drivers of regional carbon dioxide emissions for China. J Ind Ecol, 16(4): 600–611

[26] Fu C, Yu G (2010). Estimation and spatiotemporal analysis of methane emissions from agriculture in China. Environ Manage, 46(4): 618–632

[27] Geng Y, Tian M, Zhu Q, Zhang J, Peng C (2011). Quantification of provincial-level carbon emissions from energy consumption in China. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 15(8): 3658–3668

[28] Guan D, Hubacek K, Weber C L, Peters G P, Reiner D (2008). The drivers of Chinese CO₂ emissions from 1980 to 2030. Global Environmental Change: Human and Policy Dimensions, 18(4): 626–634

[29] Guan D, Liu Z, Geng Y, Lindner S, Hubacek K (2012). The gigatonne gap in China’s carbon dioxide inventories. Nature Climate Change, doi: 10.1038/nclimate1560

[30] Guan D, Peters G P, Weber C L, Hubacek K (2009). Journey to world top emitter: an analysis of the driving forces of China’s recent CO₂ emissions surge. Geophys Res Lett, 36(4): 1–5

[31] Guo J, Zhang Z, Meng L (2012a). China’s provincial CO₂ emissions embodied in international and interprovincial trade. Energy Policy, 42: 486–497

[32] Guo J, Zou L L, Wei Y M (2010). Impact of inter-sectoral trade on national and global CO₂ emissions: an empirical analysis of China and US. Energy Policy, 38(3): 1389–1397

[33] Guo S, Shao L, Chen H, Li Z, Liu J B, Xu F X, Li J S, Han M Y, Meng J, Chen Z M, Li S C (2012b). Inventory and input–output analysis of CO₂ emissions by fossil fuel consumption in Beijing 2007. Ecol Inform, 12: 93–100

[34] Hertwich E G, Peters G P (2009). Carbon footprint of nations: a global, trade-linked analysis. Environ Sci Technol, 43(16): 6414–6420

[35] INCCCC (2004). Initial National Communication on Climate Change of China. Available at: http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/file/en_source/da/da2004110901.pdf.

[36] Ipek Tunç G, Türüt-Asik S, Akbostanci E (2007). CO₂ emissions vs. CO₂ responsibility: an input–output approach for the Turkish economy. Energy Policy, 35(2): 855–868

[37] Jiang P, Keith Tovey N (2009). Opportunities for low carbon sustainability in large commercial buildings in China. Energy Policy, 37(11): 4949–4958

[38] Labandeira X, Labeaga J M (2002). Estimation and control of Spanish energy-related CO₂ emissions: an input–output approach. Energy Policy, 30(7): 597–611

[39] Lenzen M (1998). Primary energy and greenhouse gases embodied in Australian final consumption: an input–output analysis. Energy Policy, 26(6): 495–506

[40] Lenzen M, Murray J, Sack F, Wiedmann T (2007). Shared producer and consumer responsibility—Theory and practice. Ecol Econ, 61(1): 27–42

[41] Lenzen M, Pade L L, Munksgaard J (2004). CO₂ multipliers in multi-regional input–output models. Econ Syst Res, 16(4): 391–412

[42] Leontief W (1970). Environmental repercussions and the economic structure: an input–output approach. Rev Econ Stat, 52(3): 262–271

[43] Li Y, Hewitt C N (2008). The effect of trade between China and the UK on national and global carbon dioxide emissions. Energy Policy, 36(6): 1907–1914

[44] Liang Q M, Fan Y, Wei Y M (2007). Multi-regional input–output model for regional energy requirements and CO₂ emissions in China. Energy Policy, 35(3): 1685–1700

[45] Limmeechokchai B, Suksuntornsiri P (2007). Embedded energy and total greenhouse gas emissions in final consumptions within Thailand. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 11(2): 259–281

[46] Lin B, Sun C (2010). Evaluating carbon dioxide emissions in international trade of China. Energy Policy, 38(1): 613–621

[47] Liu H, Liu W, Tang Z, Fan X (2010a). The effect analysis of regional industry structure adjustment for CO₂ emission reduction in China: on the base of inter-regional input–output method. Areal Research and Development, 39(3): 129–135 (in Chinese)

[48] Liu L C, Wang J N, Wu G, Wei Y M (2010b). China’s regional carbon emissions change over 1997–2007. International Journal of Energy and Environment, 1(1): 161–176

[49] Liu W D, Chen J, Tang Z P, Liu H G, Han D, Li F Y (2012a). Compliment Theory and Practice of China’s Interregional Input-Output Table for 30 Regions in 2007. Beijing: China Statistics Press (in Chinese)

[50] Liu X, Ishikawa M, Wang C, Dong Y, Liu W (2010c). Analyses of CO₂ emissions embodied in Japan-China trade. Energy Policy, 38(3): 1510–1518

[51] Liu X B, Wang C (2009). Quantitative analysis of CO₂ embodiment in international trade: an overview of emerging literatures. Front Environ Sci Eng China, 3(1): 12–19

[52] Liu Z, Geng Y, Lindner S, Guan D (2012b). Uncovering China’s greenhouse gas emission from regional and sectoral perspectives. Energy, 45(1): 1059–1068

[53] Machado G, Schaeffer R, Worrell E (2001). Energy and carbon embodied in the international trade of Brazil: an input–output approach. Ecol Econ, 39(3): 409–424

[54] Mäenpää I, Siikavirta H (2007). Greenhouse gases embodied in the international trade and final consumption of Finland: an input–output analysis. Energy Policy, 35(1): 128–143

[55] McGregor P G, Swales J K, Turner K (2008). The CO₂ “trade balance” between Scotland and the rest of UK: performing a multi-region environmental input–output analysis with limited data. Ecol Econ, 66(4): 662–673

[56] Meng L, Guo J E, Chai J E, Zhang Z K (2011). China’s regional CO₂ emissions: characteristics, inter-regional transfer and emission reduction policies. Energy Policy, 39(10): 6136–6144

[57] Miller R E, Blair P D (2009). Input-Output Analysis: Foundations and Extensions (2nd revised edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

[58] Miller R E, Shao G (1990). Spatial and sector-specific aggregation in commodity-industry multiregional input–output model. Environ Plan A, 22(12): 1637–1656

[59] Minx J C, Wiedmann T, Wood R, Peters G P, Lenzen M, Owen A, Scott K, Barrett J, Hubacek K, Baiocchi G, Paul A, Dawkins E, Briggs J, Guan D, Suh S, Ackerman F (2009). Input–output analysis and carbon footprinting: an overview of applications. Econ Syst Res, 21(3): 187–216

[60] Mongelli I, Tassielli G, Notarnicola B (2006). Global warming agreements, international trade and energy/carbon embodiments: an input–output approach to the Italian case. Energy Policy, 34(1): 88–100

[61] Munksgaard J, Pedersen K A (2001). CO₂ accounts for open economies: producer or consumer responsibility? Energy Policy, 29(4): 327–334

[62] Okadera T, Watanabe M, Xu K (2006). Analysis of water demand and water pollutant discharge using a regional input–output table: an application to the City of Chongqing, upstream of the Three Gorges Dam in China. Ecol Econ, 58(2): 221–237

[63] Pan J H, Phillips J, Chen Y (2008). China’s balance of emissions embodied in trade: approaches to measurement and allocating international responsibility. Oxf Rev Econ Policy, 24(2): 354–376

[64] Peters G P (2008). From production-based to consumption-based national emissions inventories. Ecol Econ, 65(1): 13–23

[65] Peters G P, Hertwich E G (2006). Pollution embodied in trade: the Norwegian case. Glob Environ Change, 16(4): 379–387

[66] Peters G P, Hertwich E G (2008). CO₂ embodied in international trade with implications for global climate policy. Environ Sci Technol, 42(5): 1401–1407

[67] Peters G P, Minx J C, Weber C L, Edenhofer O (2011). Growth in emission transfers via international trade from 1990 to 2008. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 108(21): 8903–8908

[68] Peters G P, Weber C L, Guan D, Hubacek K (2007). China’s growing CO₂ emissions—A race between lifestyle changes and efficiency gains. Environ Sci Technol, 41(17): 5939–5944

[69] Roca J, Serrano M (2007). Income growth and atmospheric pollution in Spain: an input–output approach. Ecol Econ, 63(1): 230–242

[70] Sánchez-Chóliz J, Duarte R (2004). CO₂ emissions embodied in international trade: evidence for Spain. Energy Policy, 32(18): 1999–2005

[71] Tong K K, Ma K M (2012). Greenhouse gas emission inventory from energy consumption of Beijing based on input–output analysis. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 32(9): 2228–2235 (in Chinese)

[72] Wang T, Watson J (2007). Who Owns China’s Carbon Emissions? Sussex: Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research

[73] Wang Z H, Zeng H L, Wei Y M, Zhang Y X (2012). Regional total factor energy efficiency: an empirical analysis of industrial sector in China. Appl Energy, 97: 115–123

[74] Weber C L, Matthews H S (2007). Embodied environmental emissions in U.S. international trade, 1997–2004. Environ Sci Technol, 41(14): 4875–4881

[75] Weber C L, Peters G P, Guan D, Hubacek K (2008). The contribution of Chinese exports to climate change. Energy Policy, 36(9): 3572–3577

[76] Wiedmann T (2009). A review of recent multi-region input–output models used for consumption-based emission and resource accounting. Ecol Econ, 69(2): 211–222

[77] Wiedmann T, Lenzen M, Turner K, Barrett J (2007). Examining the global environmental impact of regional consumption activities — Part 2: review of input–output models for the assessment of environmental impacts embodied in trade. Ecol Econ, 61(1): 15–26

[78] Wiedmann T, Wilting H C, Lenzen M, Lutter S, Palm V (2011). Quo Vadis MRIO? Methodological, data and institutional requirements for multi-region input–output analysis. Ecol Econ, 70(11): 1937–1945

[79] Wiedmann T, Wood R, Minx J, Lenzen M, Guan D, Harris R (2010). A carbon footprint time series of the UK—Results from a multi-region input–output model. Econ Syst Res, 22(1): 19–42

[80] Xu M, Allenby B, Chen W Q (2009). Energy and air emissions embodied in China-U.S. trade: eastbound assessment using adjusted bilateral trade data. Environ Sci Technol, 43(9): 3378–3384

[81] Xu M, Li R, Crittenden J C, Chen Y (2011). CO₂ emissions embodied in China’s exports from 2002 to 2008: a structural decomposition analysis. Energy Policy, 39(11): 7381–7388

[82] Yan Y F, Yang L (2010). China’s foreign trade and climate change: a case study of CO₂ emissions. Energy Policy, 38(1): 350–356

[83] Zhang B (2011). Methane emissions in China: time series inventories and systems embodiment analysis. Dissertation for Ph.D degree. Beijing: Peking University (in Chinese)

[84] Zhang B, Chen G Q (2010). Methane emissions by Chinese economy: inventory and embodiment analysis. Energy Policy, 38(8): 4304–4316

[85] Zhang B, Peng S P, Xu X Y, Wang L J (2011). Embodiment analysis for greenhouse gas emissions by Chinese economy based on Global Thermodynamic Potentials. Energies, 4(11): 1897–1915

[86] Zhang Y (2010). Supply-side structural effect on carbon emissions in China. Energy Econ, 32(1): 186–193

[87] Zhao Y, Nielsen C P, McElroy M B (2012). China’s CO₂ emissions estimated from the bottom up: recent trends, spatial distributions, and quantification of uncertainties. Atmos Environ, 59: 214–223

[88] Zhou J B (2008). Embodied ecological elements accounting of national economy. Dissertation for Ph.D degree. Beijing: Peking University (in Chinese).

[89] Zhou S Y, Chen H, Li S C (2010). Resources use and greenhouse gas emissions in urban economy: ecological input–output modeling for Beijing 2002. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(10): 3201–3231

Acknowledgements

This study has been supported by the Humanities and Social Sciences Fund, Ministry of Education of China (12YJC790255), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71373262), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20120023120002), and the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining & Technology (SKLCRSM11KFA04). Very helpful comments by the two anonymous reviewers and the editor are highly appreciated.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2013 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg