IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v289y2024ics0360544223033443.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Low-carbon development in China's transportation sector: Multidimensional characteristics and policy implications

Author

Listed:
  • Xu, Chong
  • Li, Zhiwen
  • Chen, Boyang
  • Yang, Qian
  • An, Jiafu

Abstract

Although low-carbon development of transportation sector is crucial for global deep decarbonization, the multidimensional characteristics (e.g., inequality, complex network and efficiency-related drivers) carbon intensity (CI) in the sector at sub-national level is still lacking in-depth evaluation for an emerging economy in particular. Here, using social network analysis, inequality decomposition and production-theoretical decomposition analysis with a focus on regional heterogeneity, the study comprehensively investigated the complex network, inequality and novel drivers related to efficiency and technological change of CI for transportation sectors across 30 provinces in China over 1997–2019. We found that first, the strict spatial correlation structure of CI in the transportation sector was gradually broken and the inter-provincial correlation were enhanced. Second, the inequality of CI declined where gasoline, diesel oil, kerosene and raw coal were the main contributors. Third, the potential carbon factor mainly promoted the reduction of CI while the impact of potential energy intensity exhibited an "inverted U″ trend over the period. Forth, the group technical change effects of energy usage and CO2 emission first promoted the decline of CI and then inhibited it. The study highlights the importance of the multidimensional characteristics in the transportation sector when formulating CI-related policies according to the local conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Chong & Li, Zhiwen & Chen, Boyang & Yang, Qian & An, Jiafu, 2024. "Low-carbon development in China's transportation sector: Multidimensional characteristics and policy implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:289:y:2024:i:c:s0360544223033443
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.129950
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544223033443
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129950?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Georgatzi, Vasiliki V. & Stamboulis, Yeoryios & Vetsikas, Apostolos, 2020. "Examining the determinants of CO2 emissions caused by the transport sector: Empirical evidence from 12 European countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 11-20.
    2. Zhang, Ning & Zhao, Yu & Wang, Na, 2022. "Is China's energy policy effective for power plants? Evidence from the 12th Five-Year Plan energy saving targets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    3. Ang, B.W., 2015. "LMDI decomposition approach: A guide for implementation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 233-238.
    4. Jiandong Chen & Chong Xu & Qianjiao Xie & Malin Song, 2020. "Net primary productivity‐based factors of China's carbon intensity: A regional perspective," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 1727-1748, December.
    5. Chen, Jiandong & Xu, Chong & Huang, Shuo & Shen, Zhiyang & Song, Malin & Wang, Shiqi, 2022. "Adjusted carbon intensity in China: Trend, driver, and network," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    6. Xu, Chong & Wang, Bingjie & Chen, Jiandong & Shen, Zhiyang & Song, Malin & An, Jiafu, 2022. "Carbon inequality in China: Novel drivers and policy driven scenario analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    7. Solaymani, Saeed, 2019. "CO2 emissions patterns in 7 top carbon emitter economies: The case of transport sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 989-1001.
    8. Wang, Kunlun & Zheng, Leven J. & Zhang, Justin Zuopeng & Yao, Hongjiang, 2022. "The impact of promoting new energy vehicles on carbon intensity: Causal evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    9. Mustapa, Siti Indati & Bekhet, Hussain Ali, 2016. "Analysis of CO2 emissions reduction in the Malaysian transportation sector: An optimisation approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 171-183.
    10. Xu, Chong, 2023. "Towards balanced low-carbon development: Driver and complex network of urban-rural energy-carbon performance gap in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    11. Talbi, Besma, 2017. "CO2 emissions reduction in road transport sector in Tunisia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 232-238.
    12. Zhou, P. & Ang, B.W., 2008. "Decomposition of aggregate CO2 emissions: A production-theoretical approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 1054-1067, May.
    13. Liu, Jiaguo & Li, Sujuan & Ji, Qiang, 2021. "Regional differences and driving factors analysis of carbon emission intensity from transport sector in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    14. Zhang, Ning & Choi, Yongrok, 2013. "Total-factor carbon emission performance of fossil fuel power plants in China: A metafrontier non-radial Malmquist index analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 549-559.
    15. Wang, Qunwei & Hang, Ye & Su, Bin & Zhou, Peng, 2018. "Contributions to sector-level carbon intensity change: An integrated decomposition analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 12-25.
    16. Zhou, P. & Ang, B.W. & Wang, H., 2012. "Energy and CO2 emission performance in electricity generation: A non-radial directional distance function approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 221(3), pages 625-635.
    17. Wang, H. & Zhou, P. & Xie, Bai-Chen & Zhang, N., 2019. "Assessing drivers of CO2 emissions in China's electricity sector: A metafrontier production-theoretical decomposition analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 275(3), pages 1096-1107.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Songlin & Miao, Xuaner & Zheng, Haoqing & Chen, Weihong & Wang, Huafeng, 2024. "Spatial functional division in urban agglomerations and carbon emission intensity: New evidence from 19 urban agglomerations in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Jiandong & Xu, Chong & Huang, Shuo & Shen, Zhiyang & Song, Malin & Wang, Shiqi, 2022. "Adjusted carbon intensity in China: Trend, driver, and network," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    2. Xu, Chong & Wang, Bingjie & Chen, Jiandong & Shen, Zhiyang & Song, Malin & An, Jiafu, 2022. "Carbon inequality in China: Novel drivers and policy driven scenario analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    3. Wang, Hui & Li, Rupeng & Zhang, Ning & Zhou, Peng & Wang, Qiang, 2020. "Assessing the role of technology in global manufacturing energy intensity change: A production-theoretical decomposition analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    4. Jiandong Chen & Chong Xu & Yinyin Wu & Zihao Li & Malin Song, 2022. "Drivers and trajectories of China’s renewable energy consumption," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 313(1), pages 441-459, June.
    5. Xu, Chong, 2023. "Towards balanced low-carbon development: Driver and complex network of urban-rural energy-carbon performance gap in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    6. Liu, Xiao & Hang, Ye & Wang, Qunwei & Chiu, Ching-Ren & Zhou, Dequn, 2022. "The role of energy consumption in global carbon intensity change: A meta-frontier-based production-theoretical decomposition analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    7. Bingjie Wang & Chong Xu & Ding Li & Yinyin Wu & Yaqi Zhang, 2023. "The Effects of Environmental Tax Revenue on Sustainable Development in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Wang, H. & Zhou, P. & Xie, Bai-Chen & Zhang, N., 2019. "Assessing drivers of CO2 emissions in China's electricity sector: A metafrontier production-theoretical decomposition analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 275(3), pages 1096-1107.
    9. Zhou, P. & Zhang, H. & Zhang, L.P., 2022. "The drivers of energy intensity changes in Chinese cities: A production-theoretical decomposition analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    10. Chen, Jiandong & Xu, Chong & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Song, Malin, 2021. "Interaction determinants and projections of China’s energy consumption: 1997–2030," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    11. Chuanxin Xia & Yu Zhao & Qingxia Zhao & Shuo Wang & Ning Zhang, 2022. "Exact Eco-Efficiency Measurement in the Yellow River Basin: A New Non-Parametric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-18, October.
    12. Li, Yonglin & Zuo, Zhili & Cheng, Yue & Cheng, Jinhua & Xu, Deyi, 2023. "Towards a decoupling between regional economic growth and CO2 emissions in China's mining industry: A comprehensive decomposition framework," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    13. Li, Ding & Gao, Ming & Hou, Wenxuan & Song, Malin & Chen, Jiandong, 2020. "A modified and improved method to measure economy-wide carbon rebound effects based on the PDA-MMI approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    14. Zha, Donglan & Yang, Guanglei & Wang, Qunwei, 2019. "Investigating the driving factors of regional CO2 emissions in China using the IDA-PDA-MMI method," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    15. Jiandong Chen & Chong Xu & Qianjiao Xie & Malin Song, 2020. "Net primary productivity‐based factors of China's carbon intensity: A regional perspective," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 1727-1748, December.
    16. Xia, Yin-Shuang & Sun, Lu-Xuan & Feng, Chao, 2022. "What causes spatial inequalities of low-carbon development in China's transport sector? A newly proposed meta-frontier DEA-based decomposition approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    17. Chen, Qingjuan & Wang, Qunwei & Zhou, Dequn & Wang, Honggang, 2023. "Drivers and evolution of low-carbon development in China's transportation industry: An integrated analytical approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    18. Zhou, Xun & Kuosmanen, Timo, 2020. "What drives decarbonization of new passenger cars?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 284(3), pages 1043-1057.
    19. Wang, H. & Zhou, P., 2018. "Multi-country comparisons of CO2 emission intensity: The production-theoretical decomposition analysis approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 310-320.
    20. Xiao Liu & Yancai Zhang & Yingying Li, 2022. "How Does Energy Consumption and Economic Development Affect Carbon Emissions? A Multi-Process Decomposition Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-16, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:289:y:2024:i:c:s0360544223033443. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.