Study on the Spatial Association and Influencing Factors of Carbon Emissions from the Chinese Construction Industry

Abstract

As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China is under enormous pressure to decrease carbon emissions. With the economic development in recent years, China has increased its investment in infrastructure, and the construction industry has become an essential source of carbon emissions. Using the social network analysis (SNA) methodology, this article analyzes the evolutionary characteristics of the spatial correlation network for carbon emissions in the construction industry from 2003–2017 and its affecting factors. The results of the empirical analysis in this paper are: (1) the spatial association of carbon emissions in Chinese inter-provincial construction industry shows an intuitive network layout and the spatial network has gradually stabilized since 2014; (2) according to the results of degree centrality, betweenness centrality and closeness centrality, it can be concluded that the regions with higher level of association with other provinces are the central and the eastern regions (Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangsu, etc.) and Xinjiang; the linkage of construction-related carbon emissions was mainly achieved through the regions of Henan, Anhui, Shanxi, Hebei, Guangdong, and Inner Mongolia; the regions with higher level of construction industry development (Jiangsu, Henan, Hunan, Guangdong, etc.) are more closely associated with other provinces; (3) geographical proximity and reduction of difference in energy intensity and in industrial structure have substantial positive effects on the carbon emission association of the construction industry. Finally, based on the research results, this article proposes corresponding policy recommendations.