Decoupling analysis and peak prediction of carbon emission based on decoupling theory

• Published in: Sustainable computing informatics and systems Vol. 28; p. 100424
• Main Author: Shi, Chunxue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Carbon emission; Decoupling theory; Economic growth; EKC hypothesis; Peak prediction; Scenario analysis; EKC hypothesis; Carbon emission; Scenario analysis; Peak prediction; Economic growth; Decoupling theory
• ISSN: 2210-5379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.suscom.2020.100424

•The real decoupling of economic growth and carbon emissions is the basis for China to realize the sustainable development of low-carbon economy. To maintain the sustainable development trend of China’s economy, it is necessary to get rid of the ties between fossil energy and control and reduce carbon emissions. From a local perspective, this paper selects a specific province in China and empirically analyzes the correlation between carbon emissions, energy consumption and economic growth in 1994–2016.•The ultimate goal of sustainable and low-carbon economic transformation and development is to realize the complete decoupling of economic growth and carbon emissions. Therefore, it is important to understand the development and change of decoupling relationship between variables. Based on EKC hypothesis and Tapio decoupling theory, this paper empirically analyzes the decoupling relationship in the time interval and at the time node, and finds out the actual situation of decoupling relationship between energy environment and economic growth in Shandong Province.•According to the extension method of KAYA identity, the calculation formula of carbon emissions is transformed, and a carbon emission prediction model including constraints is constructed. According to the decoupling relationship theory, different decoupling situations of carbon emission and economic growth are set up to judge the future decoupling status. In this way, “decoupling” and “prediction” are effectively combined. Then, combined with scenario analysis method, the total carbon emission and its annual growth rate in 2016–2030 are predicted, and the decoupling status between carbon emission and economic growth is predicted. Based on the change of carbon emission in the future, the possible peak year of carbon emission under different scenarios is analyzed. Under the low-carbon environment of economy and society, the real decoupling between economic growth and high carbon emissions is the basis for realizing the sustainable and low-carbon transformation and development of Shandong Province. This paper uses energy consumption as an intermediate variable, according to EKC hypothesis theory and Tapio decoupling indicator theory, by constructing the multiple regression model and low-carbon decoupling model of carbon emissions, energy consumption and economic growth, this makes an empirical analysis of the interval elasticity relationship and the point-in-time elasticity relationship in 1994−2017. The decoupling situation is: there is an inverted "N" curve relationship between carbon emissions and economic growth in Shandong Province. The second theoretical turning point is in 2012, and the decoupling relationship will gradually appear in the future. To a great extent, Shandong Province's low-carbon decoupling indicator is affected by the energy conservation decoupling indicator, and the strong decoupling state of economic growth and carbon emissions has appeared continuously, but it is not stable enough. The ideal decoupling state between economic growth and carbon emission will occur only after carbon emission reaches the peak, so it is necessary to predict the peak year of carbon emission. Based on the scenario analysis and decoupling theory, a carbon emission model is constructed to analyze the carbon emission status and its possible peak years in different scenarios in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2030. On the whole, with the improvement of economic development level, the situation of low energy consumption and low emissions is gradually significant. The degree of decoupling is mainly affected by the macro-economic situation and the change of policy regulation. Therefore, the paper puts forward the scientific, feasible and effective policy measures with Shandong characteristics to promote the sustainable development of low-carbon economy.