The driving force effect of trade embodied carbon emissions and embodied SO_(2) emissions transferred in resources-rich areas: A case study of Shanxi province

SDA (Structural Decomposition Analysis) model was applied to analyze the driving factors of embodied carbon and SO_(2) emissions transferred in Shanxi during 2007-2012 based on the input-output model from the perspectives of region and industry.The results showed that the change of embodied carbon emissions and embodied SO_(2) emissions of Shanxi and other regions were hindered by the carbon (sulfur) emissions strength effect,but promoted by the intermediate (final) demand scale effect,the intermediate (final) structure effect and the input-output structure effect.The carbon emissions strength effect had a significant contribution to reducing the embodied carbon emissions transferred from industries in Shanxi to other regions.The intermediate (final) demand scale effect was the driving factor to increase the embodied carbon emissions transferred from industries in Shanxi to other regions.The sulfur emissions strength effect was the only factor that reduced the embodied SO_(2) emissions transferred from Shanxi to other industries.The change of embodied carbon emissions from industries in other regions to Shanxi was hindered by the carbon emissions strength effect,but the input-output structure effect and final demand scale effect both increased the embodied carbon emissions from industries in other regions to Shanxi.The change of the embodied SO_(2) emissions transferred from industries in other regions to Shanxi was inhibited by the sulfur emissions strength effect,but the input-output structure effect,the intermediate demand structure effect and the final demand scale effect were both the driving force effect of increasing the embodied SO_(2) emissions transferred from industries in other regions to Shanxi.The corresponding suggestions and measures were put forward.

Embodied carbon emissions in China-US trade

China-US trade holds great significance for the world’s political and economic landscape.Since 2018,the US government has imposed additional tariffs on Chinese exports on the grounds of the US trade deficit with China.However,the transfer of pollutants embodied in trade and the differences in environmental costs between China and the US have not been widely recognized.In this study,we quantify the embodied carbon emissions(the"virtual"emissions associated with trade and consumption)in China-US trade by constructing a carbon dioxide emissions inventory and a multiregional input-output model.The study shows that the US benefits from a trade surplus of environmental costs by importing energy-intensive and pollutionintensive products from China,which increases China’s environmental pollution and abatement costs.In 2017,288 Mt CO2 emissions were associated with products produced in China but finally consumed in the US,and only 46 Mt CO2 were associated with the US products that were consumed in China.From this perspective,China-US trade results in a net transfer of 242 Mt CO2 per year from the US to China,accounting for approximately 5%of the total CO2 emissions in the US.More importantly,for Chinese products exported to the US,the carbon emissions embodied in one unit of economic value amount to 0.92 kg/$(RMB:USD=6.8:1),but for US products exported to China,the carbon emissions embodied in one unit of economic value amount to 0.53 kg/$,which means China will incur environmental costs that are 74%higher than those of the US while enjoying the same economic benefits.This environmental trade deficit has burdened China with higher environmental costs than economic benefits.To address this environmental trade deficit,China should actively promote further industrial upgrading and energy structure adjustment and increase investment in innovation and R&D,thereby increasing the value added per unit of export products and reducing the environmental cost of producing export products.

Research on carbon emissions embodied in China-Russia trade under the background of the Belt and Road

Based on the latest China-Russia input-output data sets over the period from 2007 to 2015,this study quantified the flow of embodied carbon emissions in China-Russia trade using the emission embodied in bilateral trade(EEBT)approach.In addition,the structural decomposition analysis(SDA)was employed to identify the potential driving factors that affect embodied carbon in imports and exports.The results showed as follow.1)China was a net exporter of carbon emissions in bilateral trade between China and Russia during 2007–2015.Despite that the bilateral trade scale had expanded considerably,the net export volume of CO_(2)from China to Russia decreased from 13.21 Mt in 2007 to 4.45 Mt in 2015.2)From the perspective of different sectors,the metal manufacturing and the chemical sectors of China and Russia were the main sources of CO_(2)emissions.3)In terms of driving factors,it was found that the carbon emission coefficient was the main reason for contributing to embodied emission reduction.Moreover,the contribution rate of carbon emission coefficient to reduce the carbon emissions in imports reached to 95.26%,as well as 108.22%in exports.The bilateral trade scale was the main driver for the increase in embodied carbon emissions,and the contribution rate to embodied carbon emissions in imports and exports were 14.80%and 65.17%,respectively.4)This study argued that China and Russia should further optimize the energy structure and improve the energy efficiency and intermediate technology in the future.

Embodied energy consumption and carbon emissions evaluation for urban industrial structure optimization

Cities are the main material processors asso- ciated with industrialization. The development of urban production based on fossil fuels is the major contributor to the rise of greenhouse gas density, and to global warming. The concept of urban industrial structure optimization is considered to be a solution to urban sustainable develop- ment and global climate issues. Enforcing energy con- servation and reducing carbon emissions are playing key roles in addressing these issues. As such, quantitative accounting and the evaluation of energy consumption and corresponding carbon emissions, which are by-products of urban production, are critical, in order to discover potential opportunities to save energy and to reduce emissions. Conventional evaluation indicators, such as ＂energy consumption per unit output value＂ and ＂emissions per unit output value＂, are concerned with immediate consumptions and emissions; while the indirect consump- tions and emissions that occur throughout the supply chain are ignored. This does not support the optimization of the overall urban industrial system. To present a systematic evaluation framework for cities, this study constructs new evaluation indicators, based on the concepts of ＂embodied energy＂ and ＂embodied carbon emissions＂, which take both the immediate and indirect effects of energy consumption and emissions into account. Taking Beijing as a case, conventional evaluation indicators are compared with the newly constructed ones. Results show that the energy consumption and emissions of urban industries are represented better by the new indicators than by conventional indicators, and provide useful information for urban industrial structure optimization.

Which sectors should be covered by the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism?

The European Union(EU)is developing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism(CBAM)to address carbon leakage in international trade.However,the EU has paid inadequate attention to input-output linkages,specifically those in the steel,aluminum,and fertiliser industries.This study aims to identify priority sectors eligible for initial regulation within the emissions-intensive trade-exposed(EITE)industries based on input-output linkages and compare its impacts with the current CBAM sector coverage.This study constructs a Global Production Network(GPN)and Carbon Flow Network(CFN)to present the input trade and embodied carbon flows for the EITE industries.This study highlights the role of the EITE industries as influential nodes in the production network and how the EITE industries in the EU contribute to carbon emissions.To improve the economy and political acceptability,CABM should cover four priority sectors with low economic impacts but a crucial role in reducing emissions,such as plastics,phosphorus fertiliser,aluminum,and copper industry.

Research on Measurement of China’s Inter-Provincial Trade,International Trade and Low-Carbon Trade Competitiveness

In this paper,Embodied carbon emission competitiveness in international trade and inter-provincial trade is measured and comparative analysis is conducted.Specifi cally the non-competitive input-output model and low-carbon trade competitiveness index are constructed to study the embodied carbon emission competitiveness of 31 Chinese provinces in international trade and inter-provincial trade from the perspectives of the whole,three industries and product sectors.We find that Shanghai is the most competitive in low-carbon trade,while Qinghai is the least;carbon leakage in international trade is severe;the performance of different product sectors differ widely in embodied carbon emission competitiveness in international trade and inter-provincial trade;the primary and secondary industries are competitive in low-carbon inter-provincial trade and the tertiary industry is competitive in low-carbon international trade.The innovations of this paper is as follows:methodology in low-carbon trade competitiveness index is innovated;macro,meso and micro perspectives are taken;factors in international trade and inter-provincial trade are combined in content.In the end,development of low-carbon trade is promoted and references for policy are provided for a new round of trade competition.

China’s intra-and inter-national carbon emission transfers by province:A nested network perspective

Since China carries an increasingly significant responsibility in carbon emission reduction,a systematic assessment from the multi-scale and multi-regional perspective is essential to examine the region-specific carbon emissions and different kinds of carbon transfer patterns.By identifying carbon emission flows among 31 domestic provincial administrative regions and 184 foreign countries/economies,this work examines the domestic and foreign carbon emission flows of Chinese provinces/municipalities based on the intra-and inter-national relations.Overall,the provinces and municipalities in China are divided into 4 patterns according to carbon emission flows,among which inland provinces mainly engage in domestic carbon emission transfers,western regions generally receive carbon emissions with main carbon outflows in northeastern and central provinces,and coastal regions play an essential role in balancing carbon emission surpluses and deficits between domestic and foreign regions.For different sub-regions in China,recognizing carbon emission transfer relations contributes to the synergetic and sustainable regional development from a tele-connected perspective.With the nested network analysis,the multi-scale and multiregional assessments focusing upon China’s provinces and municipalities extend the existing research to both national and global scales,providing a solid foundation for sustainable regional development in China.