Supply versus use designs of environmental extensions in input-output analysis: Conceptual and empirical implications for the case of energy

Spatial-temporal evolution and peak prediction of embodied carbon emissions in China's interregional trade

The embodied carbon in inter-regional trade has a vital impact on the allocation of carbon emission reduction obligations and the formulation of carbon emission reduction strategies. Fewer studies have examined the spatial-temporal evolution pattern and peak prediction of embodied carbon emissions in China's inter-regional trade compared with the more numerous results on embodied carbon in international commerce. This paper applies the multi-regional input-output method to estimate the embodied carbon in inter-regional trade resulting from value-added transfer and investigates the spatial and temporal evolution of its patterns. The existence of an environmental Kuznets curve model with embodied carbon emissions as the index of environmental pollution in China is examined, and the time of the inflection point is calculated. The environmental Kuznets curve model is divided into four stages, and a two-dimensional model of economic development and embodied carbon emissions is proposed. The empirical findings indicate that the embodied carbon in China's interregional commerce has an overall rising tendency in the temporal dimension and a distribution characteristic of high in the west and north and low in the east and south in the spatial dimension. The Environmental Kuznets curve, which uses embodied carbon emissions as a measure of environmental pollution, has an inverse U-shaped and the time required to reach the inflection point varies by area. Economic development cannot be cross-stage but can shorten the duration of high carbon emissions. The government should promote the development of differentiated carbon emission reduction policies in each region, construct an inter-regional cooperative carbon emission reduction mechanism, encourage the low-carbon development of inter-regional trade, and realize the internal cycle of China's green economy. This study serves as a guide for the regions to establish scientific and acceptable carbon emission reduction strategies in order to achieve quality interregional trade development.

Carbon footprint and embodied carbon emission transfer network obtained using the multi–regional input–output model and social network analysis method: A case of the Hanjiang River basin, China

China is the largest carbon emitter in the world; thus, reducing carbon emissions while maintaining economic growth has become an important issue. Within the context of carbon neutrality strategies, calculation of the carbon footprint and embodied carbon transfer can help policymakers formulate reasonable carbon reduction plans. The multi–regional input–output (MRIO) model can clarify carbon flow pathways between regions, and social network analysis (SNA) can comprehensively evaluate the different positions of individual sectors. Combining these two approaches, the specific characteristics of carbon emissions in complex production and trade relationships can be analyzed. China has become the world’s top total carbon emitter, and the Hanjiang River basin (HJRB) constitutes an important economic link between the developed and less developed regions of China. Studying carbon emissions in the HJRB can provide a reference for other, similar regions and is vital for the realization of China’s carbon emission reduction targets. This paper examines the carbon footprint and embodied carbon emission transfer among three provinces and 12 sectors in the HJRB during different periods and identifies the key industries in the carbon transfer process. The results indicate that (1) the total carbon footprint in the HJRB exhibits an increasing trend. Energy-based Shaanxi Province exhibits the highest growth rate of the carbon footprint, agriculture-based Henan Province shows a decreasing trend, and consumption-based Hubei Province displays the lowest carbon footprint intensity. (2) There are differences in the carbon emission coefficient and final consumption rate among various sectors; construction, metal processing and metal and non-metallic products, processing and manufacturing of petroleum, coking, nuclear fuel, chemical products, and other services are the sectors accounting for a high proportion of emissions. (3) The more obvious the supply relationship is, the higher the flow of embodied carbon emission transfer between sectors. (4) Energy-based regions transfer large amounts of fossil energy, electricity, steel and coal resources to developed regions and simultaneously assume more of the carbon reduction pressure imposed on developed regions. (5) The key industries within the embodied carbon emission transfer network notably control the carbon emissions of other industries and can provide breakthroughs to achieve challenging carbon emission reduction targets.

Do material efficiency improvements backfire?: Insights from an index decomposition analysis about the link between CO2 emissions and material use for Austria

To keep global heating and other negative consequences of socioeconomic activities within manageable boundaries, industrialized countries must undergo substantial decarbonization, requiring the exploitation of synergies with other environmental endeavors. Improving resource efficiency-that is, reducing the resources required to generate a unit of economic output-is a prominent goal pursued across levels of scale. How does resource efficiency relate to decarbonization? Do economies decrease their emissions as they become more efficient? We examine this relationship for Austria from 2000 to 2015 by conducting an index decomposition analysis at the sectoral level by using consumption-based indicators from the multi-regional input-output model Exiobase. Our analysis shows that for Austria, the currently popular pursuit of material efficiency appears to run the risk of coinciding with higher emissions, suggesting that the opportunities to achieve both decarbonization and dematerialization are limited. The Austrian service sectors could contribute to a reduction of the CO2 footprint via material efficiency improvements, but strong economic growth foils this possibility coming to fruition. The Austrian economy would do well to either curb demand for goods and services driving global CO2 emissions or to produce imported goods and services domestically in an environmentally more benign manner.