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Drivers of change in China's energy-related CO2 emissions.
- Source :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; 1/7/2020, Vol. 117 Issue 1, p29-36, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions are of global concern because of climate change. China has become the largest CO<subscript>2</subscript> emitter in the world and presently accounts for 30% of global emissions. Here, we analyze the major drivers of energy-related CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions in China from 1978 when the reform and opening-up policy was launched. We find that 1) there has been a 6-fold increase in energy-related CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions, which was driven primarily (176%) by economic growth followed by population growth (16%), while the effects of energy intensity (-79%) and carbon intensity (-13%) slowed the growth of carbon emissions over most of this period; 2) energy-related CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions are positively related to per capita gross domestic product (GDP), population growth rate, carbon intensity, and energy intensity; and 3) a portfolio of command-and-control policies affecting the drivers has altered the total emission trend. However, given the major role of China in global climate change mitigation, significant future reductions in China's CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions will require transformation toward low-carbon energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00278424
- Volume :
- 117
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 141180920
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1908513117