Exploring Change in China’s Carbon Intensity: A Decomposition Approach

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the change of CO 2 intensity in China at both national and provincial levels. To serve this purpose, we introduce a decomposition model which integrates the merits of index decomposition analysis and production-theoretical decomposition analysis. Based on the decomposition, we also estimate the potential reduction of CO 2 intensity for China and its provinces. Using a panel data set including China's 30 provinces during the period of 2006-2012, the empirical analysis is conducted and meaningful results are obtained. First, the potential energy intensity change was the dominant driving factor for the decrease of CO 2 intensity, which contributed to a total reduction of 19.8%. Second, the energy efficiency change and the CO 2 emission factor change also play positive roles in the CO 2 intensity reduction for most provinces. Third, provinces in the western area generally showed a relatively large potential reduction in CO 2 intensity, while those in the eastern area only demonstrated a small reduction.

Impact of global value chain embedding on industrial environmental performance: An empirical study based on the countries along the “Belt and Road”

“…Environmental performance can be evaluated by single-factor and total-factor methods according to different definition frameworks. Single-factor environmental performance method is performed by adopting the ratio of pollution emissions to economic variables (such as GDP and energy consumption) as an indicator (Kaya and Yokobori, 1998;Mielnik and Goldemberg, 1999;Du et al, 2017). Although it has the characteristics of being intuitive and easy to use, it cannot reflect the gap between the actual pollution discharge of the decision-making unit and the discharge when the optimal production is achieved.…”