Study on carbon emission characteristics and its influencing factors of energy consumption in Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

Clarifying the key sectors and influencing factors of carbon emissions from energy consumption is an important prerequisite for achieving the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals. This study calculated the carbon emissions of fuel combustion in 7 major departments and regional electricity trading of Sichuan Province from 2000 to 2021, and empirically analyzed the impact of energy structure effect, energy intensity effect, industrial structure effect, economic development level effect, and population size effect on the carbon emissions of energy consumption based on the LMDI model. The main research conclusions are as follows: (1) LMDI model has the advantages of no residual and high interpretation. By refining the multi-departments of energy consumption and different types of fuel, it is helpful to improve the accuracy of empirical analysis results. (2) The carbon emissions of energy consumption mainly come from the fuel combustion process. Specifically, the industry sector composed of steel, building materials, chemicals and machinery is the key emission sector, and transportation and residential life are also vital. Regional electricity trading can indirectly reduce the intensity of carbon emissions while ensuring the safety of energy supply. (3) From 2000 to 2021, the energy intensity effect and the economic development level effect were key factors in slowing down and promoting the carbon emission growth of energy consumption in Sichuan Province, respectively. The population scale effect mainly played a positive role in driving carbon emissions, but the impact is small and almost negligible. Before 2012, the energy structure effect and the industrial structure effect were mainly positive driving effects, and after 2012, they all turned into negative inhibitory effects. This was mainly due to the low-carbon transformation of energy structure and the optimization of industrial structure.