Inter-sectoral CO₂ flows implied in trade for Zhejiang Province, China

Abstract

The transfer of carbon dioxide (CO2) implied in inter-sectoral trade is significantly affecting the process of reducing CO2 emissions in China. This phenomenon also affects Zhejiang Province, which has the top five GDP in China. In this study, a universal modeling system is developed to clarify CO2 emission reduction responsibilities and visualize relationships of each pair of transfers in Zhejiang Province. The system includes “three modules”, namely input-output module, CO2 emission factor module and ecological network module. The proposed modelling system is employed for sectors of Zhejiang province. Research results demonstrate that industry should assume more responsibility for emission reduction; the existing development models of various industries need to be further adjusted. Achievements of this research will provide a scientific reference and a strong basis for decision-makers to formulate reasonable emission reduction policies in Zhejiang Province.