Productive and Consumptive Emission Characteristics of Energy-related Nitrogen Oxides in Eastern Chinese Cities

Abstract

Nitrogen oxides (NO x ) have long been the focus of air pollution control. Examining the spatial and driving characteristics of NO x emissions at the urban scale and from the supply-chain perspective is critical. Using the inventory method and the environmentally extended input–output analysis, energy-related NO x emissions of 90 cities in eastern China were calculated, and the spatial patterns and driving sectors of urban emissions were analyzed from both production- and consumption-based perspectives. The results show that the production-based emissions of eastern Chinese cities are substantially affected by their industrial structure and are higher in the north and lower in the south. The cities with higher consumption-based emissions are mainly those with large populations and relatively developed economies. Production-based NO x emissions per unit gross domestic product (GDP) are higher in the north and lower in the south, and emissions per unit area are generally higher in coastal areas and lower in inland areas. The emission intensities of 5 selected major urban agglomerations differ, due to the influences of industrial structure and population density. The consumption-based NO x emissions per capita are mainly affected by urban affluence and consumption patterns. The sectors that contribute most to the production-based emissions per unit GDP are mainly “mining and processing”, “petroleum, chemical and non-metallic mineral products”, “metal products”, “production and supply of electricity, natural gas and water” and “transportation, storage, and postal services”, while the sector that contributes most to the consumption-based emissions per capita is the construction industry. Emission reduction strategies are proposed for both consumption-oriented and production-oriented cities.