Search

Highlights • The majority of carbon emissions derived from indirect fraction of energy consumption in Beijing. • Life expectancy is reduced in areas where a higher amount of coal is burnt for household consumption. • Socio-economic structure changes play a major role in the observed energy and emission trends. • Search of optimal solutions for energy-efficient and low carbon private will continue to be crucial. Abstract Household carbon emissions are major contributors to global emissions that is increasing recognized. In China, approximately 20 million rural populations transfer to the urban areas annually, which results in a lot of new infrastructure construction and consumer requirements. This paper quantifies the numbers and trends of urban and rural resident on energy use and carbon footprint in Beijing from 1996 to 2011 by analysis of Consumer Lifestyle Approach (CLA) and carbon footprint. It provides a better understanding of complete energy consumption and carbon emissions profile in Beijing. The results show that for the Beijing residents, when direct and indirect energy consumption and CO 2 emissions are taken into account, the total household energy consumption proportion compared to the city increases from 22.7% to 59.2%, and the total household CO 2 emissions proportion increases from 32.2% to 68.8% in the research period. In the urbanization process, total energy consumption and carbon emissions of Beijing urban residents are significantly higher than those of rural residents. However, the transformation of a rural Beijing resident into an urban Beijing resident would not create a large difference between urban and rural areas in the per-capita energy consumption and per-capita carbon footprint. Results are assessed with respect to the available scientific literature, as well as potential available technological and policy solutions. Since the implementation that different policy instruments can mitigate carbon emissions, governments are gradually combining policy measures for the same technology. The results in this paper may help promote alternative consumption strategies in household sector which could entail more reasonable resource distribution and effective reduction of both urban and rural environmental influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we give an overview of the situation of CO2 emissions in both Beijing and Tokyo and discuss and compare the causes for their emission changes according to decomposition based on both social activities and fuel varieties. We find that in order to enjoy a sustainable development, Beijing needs to learn from Tokyo especially in energy consumption area. At the end of the paper, the cooperation between these two metropolises is summarized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As the capital of China, Beijing is regarded as a major metropolis in the world. Study of the variation in temporal energy intensity generated by the driving forces in Beijing can provide guidance for policy decisions on energy consumption in global metropolises. In this paper, we established Beijing energy-input-output tables from 1997 to 2012 in 2002 constant price. Based on the tables we use the structural decomposition analysis (SDA) to decompose energy intensity into five determining factors: Energy input coefficient, technology coefficient (Leontief inverse coefficient), final demands structure by product, final demands by category and final energy consumption coefficient. The results show that (1) During 1997 and 2012, Beijing energy intensity had continued to decline, and the energy input coefficient and final demands by category are the main factor help to decrease the energy intensity. (2) Energy input coefficient plays a vitally important role to energy intensity decrease, which may be due to the increase of the proportion of the tertiary industry. (3) The change of final demands structure by product is a driving force to make energy intensity rising except for 2002-2007, and technology coefficient (Leontief inverse) has impact on energy intensity increase except for 2007-2012. (4) The effect of final energy consumption coefficient is gradually weakened role on energy intensity. This study showed how the “top-down” IO-SDA methodology was implemented on a city scale. Policy implications from this study would be helpful for addressing energy consumption in global capital cities and metropolises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with rapid urbanization and economic development, urban household consumption has experienced a remarkable change, leading to a corresponding increase in direct and indirect carbon emissions. A systematic accounting of household carbon footprints (HCFs) in Beijing during 2002, 2007, and 2012 using a nested input-output model is presented in this paper. The results indicate that the per capita carbon footprint from urban household consumption in Beijing increased from 3054.05 kg in 2002–4611.12 kg in 2012, of which the indirect emissions were the majority. In terms of consumption structure, food, housing, transportation and communication, and education and entertainment were the four dominant sources contributing to the indirect urban HCFs in Beijing. With respect to the source, local Beijing was the largest contributor for itself materials and service provisions in 2002 and 2007, while the domestic source became the largest contributor in 2012, accounting for 55.08% of the total indirect household carbon emissions. Moreover, we also discovered that families with high income level had much higher HCFs compared to those with low income level. Given these considerations, transitions towards low-carbon household consumption are needed so as to provide equality and sustainability. • Nested input-output model is adopted to calculate household carbon footprints (HCFs). • Per capita HCFs in Beijing increased from 3054.05 kg in 2002–4611.12 kg in 2012. • Indirect emission constituted the majority of HCFs, accounting for 63.69% in 2012. • Income level has great impacts on HCFs due to energy intensive consumption pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]