IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v30y2014icp886-902.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Methane emissions in China 2007

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Bo
  • Chen, G.Q.

Abstract

In contrast to the ever-increasing focus on China's CO2 emissions, little attention has been given to its CH4 emissions, the second largest greenhouse gas. Presented in this paper is a comprehensive assessment of the CH4 emissions in Mainland China by source and region based on the latest statistical data and research literatures available. The total CH4 emission in China 2007 is estimated as 38.6Tg, one and a half times of that in USA. Even by the lower IPCC global warming potential (GWP) factor of 25, it corresponds to 964.1MtCO2-eq, in magnitude up to one seventh of China's CO2 emission and greater than the nationwide gross CO2 emissions in Australia, Canada, and Germany in 2007. As the leading emission source, energy activities are responsible for 45.3% of the total emission, agricultural activities contribute a comparable share of 40.9%, followed by waste management of 13.8%. Among all the 11 major emission sources, coal mining (38.3% of the total), enteric fermentation (21.4%) and rice cultivation (14.4%) essentially shape the CH4 emission profile for China, quite different from that for USA which is characterized by prominent emissions from enteric fermentation, municipal solid waste landfill and natural gas leakage. The Western and Central areas contribute 70.9% of the total nationwide emission and Shanxi is the largest regional CH4 emitter with an amount of 4.6Tg. The five regions of Xizang (Tibet), Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Guizhou are identified with the largest emissions per-capita and emission intensities. In contrast to the focused areas of CO2 emission reduction mainly in the energy-intensive eastern regions, the mitigation potential of CH4 emissions in the western and central regions is huge by integrating emission quantity and structure with emission per-capita and emission intensity at the regional level. Corresponding policy-making implications for CH4 emission mitigation in China are addressed.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Bo & Chen, G.Q., 2014. "Methane emissions in China 2007," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 886-902.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:30:y:2014:i:c:p:886-902
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.033
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403211300782X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.033?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. P. Bousquet & P. Ciais & J. B. Miller & E. J. Dlugokencky & D. A. Hauglustaine & C. Prigent & G. R. Van der Werf & P. Peylin & E.-G. Brunke & C. Carouge & R. L. Langenfelds & J. Lathière & F. Papa & M, 2006. "Contribution of anthropogenic and natural sources to atmospheric methane variability," Nature, Nature, vol. 443(7110), pages 439-443, September.
    2. Gasparatos, Alexandros & El-Haram, Mohamed & Horner, Malcolm, 2009. "Assessing the sustainability of the UK society using thermodynamic concepts: Part 1," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(5), pages 1074-1081, June.
    3. Geng, Yuhuan & Tian, Mingzhong & Zhu, Qiuan & Zhang, Jianjun & Peng, Changhui, 2011. "Quantification of provincial-level carbon emissions from energy consumption in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3658-3668.
    4. Liu, Zhu & Geng, Yong & Lindner, Soeren & Guan, Dabo, 2012. "Uncovering China’s greenhouse gas emission from regional and sectoral perspectives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 1059-1068.
    5. Yang, Ming, 2009. "Climate change and energy policies, coal and coalmine methane in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 2858-2869, August.
    6. Zhang, Yan & Zhang, Jinyun & Yang, Zhifeng & Li, Shengsheng, 2011. "Regional differences in the factors that influence China’s energy-related carbon emissions, and potential mitigation strategies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(12), pages 7712-7718.
    7. Gasparatos, Alexandros & El-Haram, Mohamed & Horner, Malcolm, 2009. "Assessing the sustainability of the UK society using thermodynamic concepts: Part 2," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(5), pages 956-970, June.
    8. Meng, Lei & Guo, Ju'e & Chai, Jian & Zhang, Zengkai, 2011. "China's regional CO2 emissions: Characteristics, inter-regional transfer and emission reduction policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 6136-6144, October.
    9. Morris, David R. & Szargut, Jan, 1986. "Standard chemical exergy of some elements and compounds on the planet earth," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 11(8), pages 733-755.
    10. Bhattacharya, S.C. & Abdul Salam, P. & Sharma, Mahen, 2000. "Emissions from biomass energy use in some selected Asian countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 169-188.
    11. Stern, David I. & Jotzo, Frank, 2010. "How ambitious are China and India's emissions intensity targets?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 6776-6783, November.
    12. Bo Zhang & Suping Peng & Xiangyang Xu & Lijie Wang, 2011. "Embodiment Analysis for Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Chinese Economy Based on Global Thermodynamic Potentials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-19, November.
    13. Oh, Tick Hui & Chua, Shing Chyi, 2010. "Energy efficiency and carbon trading potential in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(7), pages 2095-2103, September.
    14. Yi, Wen-Jing & Zou, Le-Le & Guo, Jie & Wang, Kai & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2011. "How can China reach its CO2 intensity reduction targets by 2020? A regional allocation based on equity and development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 2407-2415, May.
    15. Gasparatos, Alexandros & El-Haram, Mohamed & Horner, Malcolm, 2009. "A longitudinal analysis of the UK transport sector, 1970-2010," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 623-632, February.
    16. Zhou, J.B. & Jiang, M.M. & Chen, G.Q., 2007. "Estimation of methane and nitrous oxide emission from livestock and poultry in China during 1949-2003," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 3759-3767, July.
    17. Yusuf, Rafiu O. & Noor, Zainura Z. & Abba, Ahmad H. & Hassan, Mohd Ariffin Abu & Din, Mohd Fadhil Mohd, 2012. "Methane emission by sectors: A comprehensive review of emission sources and mitigation methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5059-5070.
    18. Karakurt, Izzet & Aydin, Gokhan & Aydiner, Kerim, 2012. "Sources and mitigation of methane emissions by sectors: A critical review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 40-48.
    19. Liu, H. & Jiang, G.M. & Zhuang, H.Y. & Wang, K.J., 2008. "Distribution, utilization structure and potential of biomass resources in rural China: With special references of crop residues," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(5), pages 1402-1418, June.
    20. Chen, G.Q. & Zhang, Bo, 2010. "Greenhouse gas emissions in China 2007: Inventory and input-output analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 6180-6193, October.
    21. Zhang, Bo & Chen, G.Q., 2010. "Physical sustainability assessment for the China society: Exergy-based systems account for resources use and environmental emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(6), pages 1527-1545, August.
    22. Zhang, Bo & Chen, G.Q., 2010. "Methane emissions by Chinese economy: Inventory and embodiment analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 4304-4316, August.
    23. Rong, Fang, 2010. "Understanding developing country stances on post-2012 climate change negotiations: Comparative analysis of Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 4582-4591, August.
    24. Zhang, Ming & Mu, Hailin & Ning, Yadong, 2009. "Accounting for energy-related CO2 emission in China, 1991-2006," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 767-773, March.
    25. Yanli, Yang & Peidong, Zhang & Wenlong, Zhang & Yongsheng, Tian & Yonghong, Zheng & Lisheng, Wang, 2010. "Quantitative appraisal and potential analysis for primary biomass resources for energy utilization in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 3050-3058, December.
    26. Wei, Chu & Ni, Jinlan & Du, Limin, 2012. "Regional allocation of carbon dioxide abatement in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 552-565.
    27. Clark, William C. & Gleick, Peter H., 2010. "Climate Change and the Integrity of Science," Scholarly Articles 9795466, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    28. Chen, G.Q. & Chen, B., 2009. "Extended-exergy analysis of the Chinese society," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1127-1144.
    29. Guo, Xiao-Dan & Zhu, Lei & Fan, Ying & Xie, Bai-Chen, 2011. "Evaluation of potential reductions in carbon emissions in Chinese provinces based on environmental DEA," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 2352-2360, May.
    30. He, Jiankun & Deng, Jing & Su, Mingshan, 2010. "CO2 emission from China's energy sector and strategy for its control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 4494-4498.
    31. Lindner, Soeren & Liu, Zhu & Guan, Dabo & Geng, Yong & Li, Xin, 2013. "CO2 emissions from China’s power sector at the provincial level: Consumption versus production perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 164-172.
    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. Wang, Changjian & Wang, Fei & Zhang, Xinlin & Yang, Yu & Su, Yongxian & Ye, Yuyao & Zhang, Hongou, 2017. "Examining the driving factors of energy related carbon emissions using the extended STIRPAT model based on IPAT identity in Xinjiang," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 51-61.
    2. Pan, Hengyu & Zheng, Xiangyu & Wu, Rui & Liu, Xincong & Xiao, Shijiang & Sun, Lu & Hu, Tianzi & Gao, Ziyan & Yang, Liping & Huang, Chengyi & Zhang, Xiaohong & Deng, Shihuai & Xiao, Yinlong, 2024. "Agriculture related methane emissions embodied in China's interprovincial trade," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    3. Zhang, L.X. & Wang, C.B. & Bahaj, A.S., 2014. "Carbon emissions by rural energy in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 641-649.
    4. Yan, Huijie, 2015. "Provincial energy intensity in China: The role of urbanization," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 635-650.
    5. Wang, Ke & Zhang, Jianjun & Cai, Bofeng & Yu, Shengmin, 2019. "Emission factors of fugitive methane from underground coal mines in China: Estimation and uncertainty," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 273-282.
    6. Zhang, B. & Qiao, H. & Chen, Z.M. & Chen, B., 2016. "Growth in embodied energy transfers via China’s domestic trade: Evidence from multi-regional input–output analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1093-1105.
    7. Zhang, Bo & Yang, T.R. & Chen, B. & Sun, X.D., 2016. "China’s regional CH4 emissions: Characteristics, interregional transfer and mitigation policies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1184-1195.
    8. Lu, Hongfang & Xu, FengYing & Liu, Hongxiao & Wang, Jun & Campbell, Daniel E. & Ren, Hai, 2019. "Emergy-based analysis of the energy security of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 123-135.
    9. Yongkang Yang & Qiaoyi Du & Chenlong Wang & Yu Bai, 2020. "Research on the Method of Methane Emission Prediction Using Improved Grey Radial Basis Function Neural Network Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Yuan, Zhiyi & Ou, Xunmin & Peng, Tianduo & Yan, Xiaoyu, 2019. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of multi-pathways natural gas vehicles in china considering methane leakage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    11. Chen, Yilin & Shen, Huizhong & Zhong, Qirui & Chen, Han & Huang, Tianbo & Liu, Junfeng & Cheng, Hefa & Zeng, Eddy Y. & Smith, Kirk R. & Tao, Shu, 2016. "Transition of household cookfuels in China from 2010 to 2012," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 800-809.
    12. Wenheng Wu & Hongying Zhu & Yinghao Qu & Kaiying Xu, 2017. "Regional Disparities in Emissions of Rural Household Energy Consumption: A Case Study of Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-17, May.
    13. Zheng, Chong Wei & Li, Chong Yin, 2015. "Variation of the wave energy and significant wave height in the China Sea and adjacent waters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 381-387.
    14. Du, Mingxi & Peng, Changhui & Wang, Xiaoge & Chen, Huai & Wang, Meng & Zhu, Qiuan, 2017. "Quantification of methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills in China during the past decade," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 272-279.
    15. Wu, X.F. & Chen, G.Q., 2018. "Coal use embodied in globalized world economy: From source to sink through supply chain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 978-993.
    16. Li, Y.L. & Chen, B. & Chen, G.Q., 2020. "Carbon network embodied in international trade: Global structural evolution and its policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    17. Sun, Zuo-Yu & Li, Guo-Xiu, 2015. "On reliability and flexibility of sustainable energy application route for vehicles in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 830-846.

    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. Zhang, Bo & Chen, G.Q. & Li, J.S. & Tao, L., 2014. "Methane emissions of energy activities in China 1980–2007," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 11-21.
    2. Bo Zhang & Suping Peng & Xiangyang Xu & Lijie Wang, 2011. "Embodiment Analysis for Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Chinese Economy Based on Global Thermodynamic Potentials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Zhang, Bo & Chen, G.Q., 2010. "Physical sustainability assessment for the China society: Exergy-based systems account for resources use and environmental emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(6), pages 1527-1545, August.
    4. Ye, Bin & Jiang, JingJing & Li, Changsheng & Miao, Lixin & Tang, Jie, 2017. "Quantification and driving force analysis of provincial-level carbon emissions in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 223-238.
    5. Zhang, Bo & Chen, G.Q. & Xia, X.H. & Li, S.C. & Chen, Z.M. & Ji, Xi, 2012. "Environmental emissions by Chinese industry: Exergy-based unifying assessment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 490-501.
    6. Tao Ding & Yadong Ning & Yan Zhang, 2017. "Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions in China 1990–2013," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 7(6), pages 1097-1115, December.
    7. Chen, G.Q. & Chen, Z.M., 2011. "Greenhouse gas emissions and natural resources use by the world economy: Ecological input–output modeling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2362-2376.
    8. Chen, G.Q. & Zhang, Bo, 2010. "Greenhouse gas emissions in China 2007: Inventory and input-output analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 6180-6193, October.
    9. Zhang, Bo & Chen, Z.M. & Xia, X.H. & Xu, X.Y. & Chen, Y.B., 2013. "The impact of domestic trade on China's regional energy uses: A multi-regional input–output modeling," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1169-1181.
    10. Zhang, L.X. & Wang, C.B. & Bahaj, A.S., 2014. "Carbon emissions by rural energy in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 641-649.
    11. Zhang, Bo & Chen, G.Q., 2010. "Methane emissions by Chinese economy: Inventory and embodiment analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 4304-4316, August.
    12. Zhang, Bo & Yang, T.R. & Chen, B. & Sun, X.D., 2016. "China’s regional CH4 emissions: Characteristics, interregional transfer and mitigation policies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1184-1195.
    13. Chen, G.Q. & Yang, Q. & Zhao, Y.H. & Wang, Z.F., 2011. "Nonrenewable energy cost and greenhouse gas emissions of a 1.5Â MW solar power tower plant in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 1961-1967, May.
    14. Jiang, Jingjing & Ye, Bin & Xie, Dejun & Li, Ji & Miao, Lixin & Yang, Peng, 2017. "Sector decomposition of China’s national economic carbon emissions and its policy implication for national ETS development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 855-867.
    15. Ni, Jinlan & Wei, Chu & Du, Limin, 2015. "Revealing the political decision toward Chinese carbon abatement: Based on equity and efficiency criteria," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 609-621.
    16. Lindner, Soeren & Liu, Zhu & Guan, Dabo & Geng, Yong & Li, Xin, 2013. "CO2 emissions from China’s power sector at the provincial level: Consumption versus production perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 164-172.
    17. Qi, Hai & Dong, Zhiliang & Dong, Shaohui & Sun, Xiaotian & Zhao, Yiran & Li, Yu, 2021. "Extended exergy accounting for smelting and pressing of metals industry in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    18. Byers, Edward A. & Gasparatos, Alexandros & Serrenho, André C., 2015. "A framework for the exergy analysis of future transport pathways: Application for the United Kingdom transport system 2010–2050," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 849-862.
    19. Ricardo Manso & Tânia Sousa & Tiago Domingos, 2017. "Do the Different Exergy Accounting Methodologies Provide Consistent or Contradictory Results? A Case Study with the Portuguese Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-31, August.
    20. Seckin, C. & Sciubba, E. & Bayulken, A.R., 2012. "An application of the extended exergy accounting method to the Turkish society, year 2006," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 151-163.

    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:rensus:v:30:y:2014:i:c:p:886-902. 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.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    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.