A novel temporal-spatial decomposition on drivers of China’s carbon emissions

• Published in: Gondwana research Vol. 109; pp. 274 - 284
• Main Authors: Qin, Quande, Yan, Huimin, Li, Baixun, Lv, Wei, Wasif Zafar, Muhammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Carbon emissions; Production factors; Spatial LMDI; Temporal LMDI; Production factors; Temporal LMDI; Spatial LMDI; Carbon emissions
• ISSN: 1342-937X; 1878-0571
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2022.05.001

[Display omitted] •A novel temporal-spatial decomposition was employed.•Three new drivers of carbon emissions are considered.•Energy intensity and investment efficiency are the two most significant factors.•The distribution of carbon emissions in China is unbalanced. Increase in carbon emissions is a main cause of global warming. In this study, we proposed a novel temporal-spatial decomposition method,which considers investment efficiency, resource allocation and labor, to investigate the drivers of China’s carbon emissions. The results are as follows. (1) Energy intensity and investment efficiency are the two most significant factors affecting carbon emissions. In the new normal period, carbon emissions in eastern, central, and northeast China are decreasing. (2) The distribution of carbon emissions among provinces and regions in China is unbalanced, mainly due to imbalances in energy intensity, resource allocation, and labor. (3)The carbon emission gap is the largest between the eastern and western regions; the carbon emissions are spatially stable. The research results highlight insights that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and narrow regional differences in carbon emissions.