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Environmental science and pollution research international
Jan, 2021;28 (3): 3703-3718.

Analyzing China's coal-related carbon emissions from economic growth perspective: Through decoupling and decomposition model.

Zhiwei You, Tao Zhao, Ce Song, Juan Wang
Author Information
  1. Zhiwei You: School of Economics & Management, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
  2. Tao Zhao: School of Economics & Management, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
  3. Ce Song: School of Economics & Management, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. ce_song@tju.edu.cn. ORCID
  4. Juan Wang: College of Finance, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin, China.
PMID: 32926275 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10734-y

Abstract

To evaluate the relationship between coal-related carbon emissions (CCE) and economic growth, this paper analyzed the decoupling relationship between CCE and economic growth from national and provincial perspectives during period 1997-2016 through Tapio Decoupling Index. Then, to recognize its spatial characteristics during 1997-2016, gravity model was adopted to study the geographical changes of CCE. Finally, to identify the changes of (CCE) in China and reveal its internal driving forces, this paper employs the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) decomposition analysis to decompose decoupling indicator into six effects including emission factors, energy intensity, fossil energy structure, energy consumption structure, activity, and population at national and provincial levels. The results reflect that (1) CCE of China rose by 168.37% from 1997 to 2016, and reached the peak of 7948.43 Mton in 2013. The center of gravity has shifted from (114.64 E, 34.70 N) to (113.48 E, 35.06 N). (2) The decoupling curve showed an inverted "U" shape. The economic growth of 18 provinces has achieved a strong decoupling from CCE by 2016. Only Xinjiang, Shanxi, and Shaanxi's economic growth has increased the dependence on CCE. (3) Activity and energy intensity effects were the dominant factors driving and curbing the increase of decoupling indicator respectively.

Keywords

Center of gravity Coal-related emissions Decoupling analysis Economic growth LMDI method

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Grants

  1. 2016JWZD04/Major Program of Social Science Foundation of Tianjin Municipal Education Commission
  2. 15YJA790091/Ministry of Education of Humanities and Social Science Research Fund Plan

MeSH Term

Carbon
Carbon Dioxide
China
Coal
Economic Development

Chemicals

Coal
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon
Journal Article

Word Cloud

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