Embodied Carbon Emissions and Regional Transfer Characteristics—Evidence from China

Abstract

China has a considerable impact on climate change, as it is the world’s largest developing country. Its carbon emissions are also a global concern. This research employed a multi-region input–output model to estimate the local emission effect and the regional spillover effect caused by the demand for intermediate and final products, to analyze the interregional flow of carbon emissions, and to identify the main industries causing domestic carbon emissions in China from 2007 to 2012. A structural path analysis model was used to evaluate the contribution of different factors and demand types to changes in carbon emissions. The following findings were obtained in this study: (1) The regional spillover effect of carbon emissions driven by domestic demand is characterized by inland provinces’ demand leading to emissions in coastal provinces. (2) Electricity, nonmetallic minerals, and metals are the key industries for carbon emissions. (3) The results of the SDA indicate that the scale effect is the main driving force for the growth in carbon emissions caused by domestic demand in China. Fixed capital formation is the most critical demand factor influencing carbon emissions. This study provides new insights into the characteristics of regional emission transfer in China. The conclusion of this paper is helpful to China in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.