Study on the Decoupling Relationship and Rebound Effect between Economic Growth and Carbon Emissions in Central China

Abstract

The central area is the core region of China’s economic development. Under the current goal of carbon emission reduction, the analysis of the decoupling relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions and the carbon rebound effect will help us to formulate corresponding policies, achieve a carbon peak at an early date, and ensure high-quality economic development. Based on the energy consumption data from 2000 to 2019, the carbon emission of six provinces of the central region was calculated. The Tapio decoupling model was used to learn about the decoupling index. And then, by calculating the contribution rate of technological progress to both economic growth and carbon emission intensity, the carbon saving amount and carbon rebound amount can be calculated, and the rebound effect value of carbon emission is obtained. The results show that the economy in central China presents a trend of growth. In contrast, the carbon emission of each province shows a gradient structure with a large difference, and the economic growth and carbon emission show a weak decoupling in the past five years. We further analyzed the rebound effect of carbon emissions and found that 30% of the years in the central region have a rebound effect with values of more than one. Finally, this study puts forward policy suggestions for the early realization of carbon peaks and high-quality economic development in the central region.

Decomposing and Decoupling the Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region Using the Extended LMDI and Tapio Index Model

“…Shen et al [26] compared the decoupling status of the four major economic regions in China and found that the situations in the eastern and western regions are more ideal than those in the central and north-eastern regions, suggesting that different regions should formulate corresponding carbon emission reduction strategies according to their existing factors. Liu et al [27] further found that the provinces in the central region were generally in a weak decoupling position, but with large inter-provincial differences. Yu et al [28] argued that the decoupling state depends on the inflection point of annual GDP per capita.…”

Factors Influencing Carbon Emissions in High Carbon Industries in the Zhejiang Province and Decoupling Effect Analysis

“…Wang et al [30] divided China into eastern, middle and western regions for carbon decoupling research, and the results showed that the decoupling effect of the energy intensity effect was poor. Liu et al [31] studied the decoupling of carbon emission growth and economy in the six central provinces and found that the six central provinces were in a weak decoupling state as a whole, and the decoupling effect was good. The decoupling status varies greatly among different provinces.…”