How to achieve differentiated urban mitigation? Evidence from the spatial differences in aggregate embodied carbon intensity

Abstract

A better understanding of the spatial differences in aggregate carbon intensity (ACI) among cities is useful in achieving differentiated urban mitigation. In this study, we investigated the aggregate embodied carbon intensities and spatial differences in the four municipalities in China during 2007–2017 using an input-output (I–O) model at both the aggregate and final demand category levels. The results indicated that the spatial differences were distinct and gradually increased at both levels. In addition, a spatial structural decomposition analysis was utilized to examine the main factors that contributed to these differences. The energy intensity effect was confirmed as the dominant factor, while the structural effects played an increasingly significant role, particularly the Leontief production structure effect. Finally, policy implications associated with the differentiated CO₂ peaking paths were proposed.

Keywords:

• spatial differences
• aggregate embodied carbon intensity
• spatial structural decomposition analysis
• input–output model
• China

Author contributions

Tao Lin: supervision; writing- original draft preparation. Xinya Bi: methodology; data curation; software. Junna Yan: conceptualization; writing, reviewing and editing; funding acquisition; formal analysis; validation. Chenshi Liu: visualization; software.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tianjin Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project (Grant Number: TJGL22-008).