Emission-side drivers affecting carbon neutrality based on vegetation carbon sequestration: Evidence from China

• Published in: Chinese journal of population resources and environment (Online) Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 87 - 97
• Main Author: Wang, Han
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ji'nan Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024; 中国可持续发展研究会等; KeAi Publishing Communications Ltd
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon neutrality; Carbon sequestration; Climate action; Climate change; Decarbonization; Developing countries; Econometric model; Emission; Emissions; Energy consumption; Energy usage; Energy utilization; LDCs; Net Primary Productivity; Net zero; Potential energy; Production-theoretical decomposition analysis; Socioeconomic factors; Spatial analysis; Technological change; Vegetation; Vegetation carbon sequestration; Australia; China; Econometric model; Vegetation carbon sequestration; Carbon neutrality; Production-theoretical decomposition analysis
• ISSN: 2325-4262; 2096-9589; 2325-4262
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cjpre.2024.03.008

To address climate change, the world needs deep decarbonization to achieve carbon neutrality (CN), which implies net-zero human-caused CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. This study used emission-side drivers, including socioeconomic and net primary productivity (NPP)-based factors, to determine the changes in CN based on vegetation carbon sequestration in the case of China during 2001–2015. Spatial exploratory analysis as well as the combined use of production-theoretical decomposition analysis (PDA) and an econometric model were also utilized. We showed that CN was significantly spatially correlated over the study period; Yunnan, Heilongjiang, and Jilin presented positive spatial autocorrelations, whereas Guizhou showed a negative spatial autocorrelation. More than half of CN declined over the period during which potential energy intensity (PEIE) and energy usage technological change were the largest negative and positive drivers for increasing CN. PEIE played a significantly negative role in increasing CN. We advise policymakers to focus more on emission-side drivers (e.g., energy intensity) in addition to strengthening NPP management to achieve CN.