Multi-regional input-output analysis for China＇s regional CH4 emissions

China is the largest CH4 emitter in the world. Given the importance of CH4 in greenhouse gas emission inventories, the characteristics ofChina＇s CH4 emissions at different scales deserve to be fully understood. Presented in this paper is an interprovincial input output embodi- ment 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 emis- sion 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.

A global analysis of CO_(2)and non-CO_(2)GHG emissions embodied in trade with Belt and Road Initiative countries

Introduction:The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)is an important cooperative framework that increasingly affects the global economy,trade,and emission patterns.However,most existing studies pay insufficient attention to consumption-based emissions,embodied emissions,and non-CO_(2) greenhouse gases(GHGs).This study constructs a GHG emissions database to study the trends and variations in production-based,consumption-based,and embodied emissions associated with BRI countries.Outcome:We find that the per capita GHG emissions of BRI countries are lower than the global average but show significant variation within this group.We also find that trade-embodied emissions between BRI countries and China are growing.As a group,BRI countries are anet exporter of GHGs,with a global share of net export emissions of about 20%.In 2011,nearly 80%of GHG export emissions from BRI countries flowed to non-BRI countries,and nearly 15%flowed to China;about 57%of GHG import emissions were from non-BRI countries,and about 38%were from China.Conclusion:Therefore,this study concludes that the BRI should be used to coordinate climate governance to accelerate and strengthen the dissemination and deployment of low-emissions technologies,strategies,and policies within the BRI so as to avoid a carbon-intensive lock-in effect.

Water consumption and biodiversity:Responses to global emergency events

Given that it was a once-in-a-century emergency event,the confinement measures related to the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused diverse disruptions and changes in life and work patterns.These changes significantly affected water consumption both during and after the pandemic,with direct and indirect consequences on biodiversity.However,there has been a lack of holistic evaluation of these responses.Here,we propose a novel framework to study the impacts of this unique global emergency event by embedding an environmentally extended supply-constrained global multi-regional input-output model(MRIO)into the drivers-pressure-state-impact-response(DPSIR)framework.This framework allowed us to develop scenarios related to COVID-19 confinement measures to quantify country-sector-specific changes in freshwater consumption and the associated changes in biodiversity for the period of 2020-2025.The results suggest progressively diminishing impacts due to the implementation of COVID-19 vaccines and the socio-economic system’s self-adjustment to the new normal.In 2020,the confinement measures were estimated to decrease global water consumption by about 5.7% on average across all scenarios when compared with the baseline level with no confinement measures.Further,such a decrease is estimated to lead to a reduction of around 5% in the related pressure on biodiversity.Given the interdependencies and interactions across global supply chains,even those countries and sectors that were not directly affected by the COVID-19 shocks experienced significant impacts:Our results indicate that the supply chain propagations contributed to 79% of the total estimated decrease in water consumption and 84%of the reduction in biodiversity loss on average.Our study demonstrates that the MRIO-enhanced DSPIR framework can help quantify resource pressures and the resultant environmental impacts across supply chains when facing a global emergency event.Further,we recommend the development of more locally based water conservation measures—to mitigate the effects of trade disruptions—and the explicit inclusion of water resources in post-pandemic recovery schemes.In addition,innovations that help conserve natural resources are essential for maintaining environmental gains in the post-pandemic world.

China＇s provincial CO2 emissions embodied in trade with implications for regional climate policy

CO2 emissions embodied in trade have an important and far-reaching impact on CO2 emissions reduction obligations. Based on a multi-regional inputoutput analysis, this paper calculates China＇s provincial CO2 emissions embodied in trade and analyzes CO2 emissions embodied in trade per unit of value of trade in 30 Chinese provinces. Several climate policy options that potentially reduce the impact of trade on individual provinces are discussed. One finding from this study is that provincial CO2 emissions embodied in trade accounted for approximately 60.02% of China＇s CO2 emissions in 2007. The CO2 emissions embodied in imports and exports for 30 Chinese provinces differ widely, and remarkable differences in the CO2 emissions embodied in trade per unit of value of trade exist. Another important finding, is that if provinces take binding commitments as a part of a coalition, instead of as individual provinces, then the impacts of trade can be reduced. Notably, however, the extent of reduction in a coalition varies in different provinces.

Estimating inter-regional trade flows in China： A sector-specific statistical model

China has huge differences among its regions in terms of socio-economic development, industrial structure, natural resource endowments, and technological advancement. These differences have created complicated linkages between regions in China. In this study, building upon gravity model and location quotient techniques, we develop a sector-specific model to estimate inter-provincial trade flows, which is the base for making a multi-regional input-output table. In the model, we distinguish sectors with less intra-sector input from those with larger intra-sector input, and assume that the former sectors tend to compete among regions while the latter tend to cooperate among regions. Then we apply this new method of inter-regional trade estimation to three sectors： food and tobacco, metal smelting and proc- essing, and electrical equipment. The results show that selection of bandwidth has a significant impact on the assessment of inter-regional trade. Trade flows are more scattered with the increase of bandwidths. As a result, bandwidth reflects the spatial concentration of geo- graphical activities, which should be distinguishable for different industries. We conclude that the sector-specific spatial model can increase the credibility of estimates of inter-regional trade flows.

Grey water footprint for global energy demands

With a Multi-Regional Input-Output model,this study quantifies global final energy demands’grey water footprint(GWF)based on the latest available data.In 2009,9.10 km^3 of freshwater was required to dilute the pollutants generated along the life-cycle supply chain of global energy final demands to concentrations permitted by relevant environmental regulations.On a national level,final energy demands in China,USA,India,Japan,and Brazil required the largest GWF of 1.45,1.19,0.79,0.51,and 0.45 km^3 respectively,while European countries have the highest energy demands GWF per capita.From the producer perspective,the largest GWF was generated in BRIC countries,i.e.5 Russia(1.54 km^3),China(1.35 km^3),India(0.92 km^3)and Brazil(0.56 km^3)to support global final energy demands.Because of global trading activities,a country or region’s final energy demands also give rise to water pollutants beyond its territorial boundaries.Cyprus,Greece,Luxembourg,and Malta almost entirely rely on foreign water resources to dilute water pollutants generated to meet their final energy demands.Energy demands in BRIC countries have the least dependency on external water resources.On a global average,56.9%of GWF for energy demands was generated beyond national boundaries.Energy demands in the global north are inducing water pollutions in the global south.

Exports-driven primary energy requirements and the structural paths of Chinese regions

As the major primary energy importer in the world,China has engaged in considerable efforts to ensure energy security.However,little attention has been paid to China’s embodied primary energy exports.Separating the international export from regional final demand,this paper focuses on quantifying provincial primary energy requirement arising from China’s exports,and tracing its concrete interprovincial supply chains using multi-regional input-output analysis and structural path analysis.Results show that China’s embodied primary energy uses in exports(EEE)reached 633.01 Mtce in 2012,compared to 565.15 Mtce in 2007.Four fifths of the EEE were supplied through interprovincial trade.Eastern coastal provinces accounted for nearly 70%of the national total EEE,while their primary energy supply mainly sourced from the central and western provinces.Most interprovincial supply chain paths of embodied primary energy exports were traced to the coal mining sectors of Shanxi,Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi.Critical receiving sectors in the final export provinces were Chemical industry,Metallurgy,Electronic equipment,Textile and other manufacturing sectors.Important transmission sectors were Electricity and hot water production and supply and Petroleum refining,coking,etc.In view of the specific role of exports in primary energy requirements,provincial energy uses are largely dependent on its domestic trade position and degrees of industrial participation in the global economy.Managing critical industrial sectors and supply chain paths associated with the international exports provide new insights to ensure China’s energy security and to formulate targeted energy policies.

Energy Consumption in China's Construction Industry: Energy Driving and Driven Abilities from a Regional Perspective

The construction industry is one of the largest energy consumers in China. It not only uses energy directly but also consumes a large amount of embodied energy hidden in intermediate goods and services from other industries. This paper utilizes the multi-regional input-output(MRIO)model to measure the embodied energy consumption in China's construction industry at the province level. To quantify the backward and forward linkages between the construction industry and other industries, the energy-driven and energy-driving abilities of the construction industry are investigated for 30 provinces. The results show that the values of the energy-driven coefficients are significantly larger than the energy-driving coefficients, indicating that the construction industry is highly dependent on products from other industries and other regions, not vice versa. The construction industries in the southwest and northwest regions of China have the highest energy-driven coefficients, showing that the construction industries in west China heavily rely on indirect energy embodied in goods and services. This particularly applies in Guangxi and Hainan provinces, which have the highest energydriven abilities and the lowest energy-driving abilities. The findings can facilitate the policy-makers to examine the critical energy-saving paths.