IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i10p5793-d812128.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring Potential Ways to Reduce the Carbon Emission Gap in an Urban Metabolic System: A Network Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Linlin Xia

    (Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China)

  • Jianfeng Wei

    (Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China)

  • Ruwei Wang

    (Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China)

  • Lei Chen

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Xinjiekouwai Street No. 19, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yan Zhang

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Xinjiekouwai Street No. 19, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Zhifeng Yang

    (Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China)

Abstract

To meet the global need for carbon neutrality, we must first understand the role of urban carbon metabolism. In this study, we developed a land–energy–carbon framework to model the spatial and temporal variation of carbon flows in Beijing from 1990 to 2018. Based on the changes in carbon sequestration and energy consumption, we used ecological network analysis to identify the critical paths for achieving carbon neutrality during land-use changes, thereby revealing possible decarbonization pathways to achieve carbon neutrality. By using GIS software, changes in the center of gravity for carbon flows were visualized in each period, and future urban construction scenarios were explored based on land-use policy. We found that the direct carbon emission peaked in 2010, mostly due to a growing area of transportation and industrial land. Total integrated flows through the network decreased at an average annual rate of 3.8%, and the change from cultivated land to the socioeconomic sectors and the paths between each socioeconomic component accounted for 29.5 and 31.7% of the integrated flows during the study period. The socioeconomic sectors as key nodes in the network should focus both on their scale expansion and on using cleaner energy to reduce carbon emissions. The center of gravity gradually moved southward, indicating that the new emission centers should seek a greener mixture of land use. Reducing carbon emission will strongly relied on transforming Beijing’s energy consumption structure and increasing green areas to improve carbon sinks. Our results provide insights into carbon flow paths that must be modified by implementing land-use policies to reduce carbon emission and produce a more sustainable urban metabolism.

Suggested Citation

  • Linlin Xia & Jianfeng Wei & Ruwei Wang & Lei Chen & Yan Zhang & Zhifeng Yang, 2022. "Exploring Potential Ways to Reduce the Carbon Emission Gap in an Urban Metabolic System: A Network Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:5793-:d:812128
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/10/5793/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/10/5793/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fang, Kai & Tang, Yiqi & Zhang, Qifeng & Song, Junnian & Wen, Qi & Sun, Huaping & Ji, Chenyang & Xu, Anqi, 2019. "Will China peak its energy-related carbon emissions by 2030? Lessons from 30 Chinese provinces," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    2. Zhang, Yan & Wu, Qiong & Fath, Brian D., 2018. "Review of spatial analysis of urban carbon metabolism," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 371(C), pages 18-24.
    3. Yue Dong & Linyu Xu & Zhifeng Yang & Hanzhong Zheng & Lei Chen, 2020. "Aggravation of reactive nitrogen flow driven by human production and consumption in Guangzhou City China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Kennedy, Christopher & Steinberger, Julia & Gasson, Barrie & Hansen, Yvonne & Hillman, Timothy & Havránek, Miroslav & Pataki, Diane & Phdungsilp, Aumnad & Ramaswami, Anu & Mendez, Gara Villalba, 2010. "Methodology for inventorying greenhouse gas emissions from global cities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 4828-4837, September.
    5. Liu, Pei & Lin, Borong & Zhou, Hao & Wu, Xiaoying & Little, John C., 2020. "CO2 emissions from urban buildings at the city scale: System dynamic projections and potential mitigation policies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    6. Zhou, Ya & Shan, Yuli & Liu, Guosheng & Guan, Dabo, 2018. "Emissions and low-carbon development in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities and their surroundings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1683-1692.
    7. Cui, Xuezhu & Li, Shaoying & Gao, Feng, 2020. "Examining spatial carbon metabolism: Features, future simulation, and land-based mitigation," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 438(C).
    8. Zhou, Nan & Price, Lynn & Yande, Dai & Creyts, Jon & Khanna, Nina & Fridley, David & Lu, Hongyou & Feng, Wei & Liu, Xu & Hasanbeigi, Ali & Tian, Zhiyu & Yang, Hongwei & Bai, Quan & Zhu, Yuezhong & Xio, 2019. "A roadmap for China to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve a 20% share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy by 2030," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 793-819.
    9. Yu, Shiwei & Zheng, Shuhong & Li, Xia, 2018. "The achievement of the carbon emissions peak in China: The role of energy consumption structure optimization," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 693-707.
    10. Liu, Xiaoping & Ou, Jinpei & Chen, Yimin & Wang, Shaojian & Li, Xia & Jiao, Limin & Liu, Yaolin, 2019. "Scenario simulation of urban energy-related CO2 emissions by coupling the socioeconomic factors and spatial structures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1163-1178.
    11. Xia, Chuyu & Chen, Bin, 2020. "Urban land-carbon nexus based on ecological network analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    12. Zhu, Xueting & Mu, Xianzhong & Hu, Guangwen, 2019. "Ecological network analysis of urban energy metabolic system—A case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 404(C), pages 36-45.
    13. Wang, Zhaohua & Liu, Wei, 2015. "Determinants of CO2 emissions from household daily travel in Beijing, China: Individual travel characteristic perspectives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 292-299.
    14. Christopher Kennedy & John Cuddihy & Joshua Engel‐Yan, 2007. "The Changing Metabolism of Cities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(2), pages 43-59, April.
    15. Fernandes, Milton Marques & Fernandes, Márcia Rodrigues de Moura & Garcia, Junior Ruiz & Matricardi, Eraldo Aparecido Trondoli & de Almeida, André Quintão & Pinto, Alexandre Siqueira & Menezes, Rômulo, 2020. "Assessment of land use and land cover changes and valuation of carbon stocks in the Sergipe semiarid region, Brazil: 1992–2030," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    16. Sun, Lu & Liu, Wenjing & Li, Zhaoling & Cai, Bofeng & Fujii, Minoru & Luo, Xiao & Chen, Wei & Geng, Yong & Fujita, Tsuyoshi & Le, Yiping, 2021. "Spatial and structural characteristics of CO2 emissions in East Asian megacities and its indication for low-carbon city development," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    17. Li, Jizhe & Huang, Guohe & Liu, Lirong, 2018. "Ecological network analysis for urban metabolism and carbon emissions based on input-output tables: A case study of Guangdong province," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 383(C), pages 118-126.
    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. Wai Ming To & Andy W. L. Chung, 2023. "Carbon-Neutrality Research in China—Trends and Emerging Themes," World, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-19, August.

    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. Liu, Xiuli & Guo, Pibin & Yue, Xiaohang & Qi, Xiaoyan & Guo, Shufeng & Zhou, Xijun, 2021. "Measuring metabolic efficiency of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration: A slacks-based measures method," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    2. Kılkış, Şiir, 2022. "Urban emissions and land use efficiency scenarios towards effective climate mitigation in urban systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Xinhui Feng & Yan Li & Lu Zhang & Chuyu Xia & Er Yu & Jiayu Yang, 2022. "Carbon Metabolism in Urban “Production–Living–Ecological” Space Based on Ecological Network Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Galychyn, Oleksandr, 2022. "Towards sustainable cities: A multi-criteria assessment framework for studying urban metabolism," MPRA Paper 121584, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 11 May 2022.
    5. Chuang Tu & Xianzhong Mu & Yufeng Wu & Yifan Gu & Guangwen Hu, 2022. "Heterogenous impacts of components in urban energy metabolism: evidences from gravity model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 10089-10117, August.
    6. Lin, Jianyi & Liu, Yuan & Meng, Fanxin & Cui, Shenghui & Xu, Lilai, 2013. "Using hybrid method to evaluate carbon footprint of Xiamen City, China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 220-227.
    7. Song, Weize & Zhang, Xiaoling & An, Kangxin & Yang, Tao & Li, Heng & Wang, Can, 2021. "Quantifying the spillover elasticities of urban built environment configurations on the adjacent traffic CO2 emissions in mainland China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    8. Liu, Bingchun & Huo, Xiankai, 2024. "Prediction of Photovoltaic power generation and analyzing of carbon emission reduction capacity in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    9. Ma, Y. & Li, Y.P. & Mei, H. & Nie, S. & Huang, G.H. & Li, Y.F. & Suo, C., 2024. "Potential way to plan China's power system (2021–2050) for climate change mitigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    10. Changlong Sun & Yongli Zhang & Wenwen Ma & Rong Wu & Shaojian Wang, 2022. "The Impacts of Urban Form on Carbon Emissions: A Comprehensive Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, August.
    11. Junyao Wang & Anqi Liu, 2022. "Scenario Analysis of Energy-Related CO 2 Emissions from Current Policies: A Case Study of Guangdong Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    12. Facchini, Angelo & Kennedy, Chris & Stewart, Iain & Mele, Renata, 2017. "The energy metabolism of megacities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(P2), pages 86-95.
    13. Lin, Huaxing & Zhou, Ziqian & Chen, Shun & Jiang, Ping, 2023. "Clustering and assessing carbon peak statuses of typical cities in underdeveloped Western China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    14. Yun-Yun Ko & Yin-Hao Chiu, 2020. "Empirical Study of Urban Development Evaluation Indicators Based on the Urban Metabolism Concept," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-15, September.
    15. Lili Sun & Huijuan Cui & Quansheng Ge, 2021. "Driving Factors and Future Prediction of Carbon Emissions in the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, September.
    16. Yang, Jingjing & Deng, Zhang & Guo, Siyue & Chen, Yixing, 2023. "Development of bottom-up model to estimate dynamic carbon emission for city-scale buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    17. Liu, Xiaoyu & Duan, Zhiyuan & Shan, Yuli & Duan, Haiyan & Wang, Shuo & Song, Junnian & Wang, Xian'en, 2019. "Low-carbon developments in Northeast China: Evidence from cities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 1019-1033.
    18. Baynes, Timothy & Lenzen, Manfred & Steinberger, Julia K. & Bai, Xuemei, 2011. "Comparison of household consumption and regional production approaches to assess urban energy use and implications for policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7298-7309.
    19. Ma, Minda & Ma, Xin & Cai, Wei & Cai, Weiguang, 2020. "Low carbon roadmap of residential building sector in China: Historical mitigation and prospective peak," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    20. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Hussain, Jafar, 2023. "An assessment of socioeconomic indicators and energy consumption by considering green financing," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

    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:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:5793-:d:812128. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.