IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i3p1226-d730944.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatial Heterogeneity of Carbon Emissions and Its Influencing Factors in China: Evidence from 286 Prefecture-Level Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Chen Li

    (School of Management, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China)

  • Heng Li

    (School of Economic and Management, Huainan Normal University, Huainan 232038, China)

  • Xionghe Qin

    (School of Urban and Regional Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China)

Abstract

In the face of the severe challenge of global warming, promoting low-carbon emission reductions is an important measure to cope with global climate change and achieve a green cycle of sustainable development. The purpose of this study was to reveal the spatial heterogeneity of carbon emissions and the influencing factors in 286 prefecture-level-and-above cities in China, and to provide an empirical basis for the formulation of low-carbon emission reduction policies in China. This study used a combination of comparative analysis, regional difference analysis, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and stepwise regression analysis to analyze the spatial differences in carbon emissions and their influencing factors in 286 prefecture-level-and-above cities in China, and draws the following main conclusions: (1) From 2005 to 2015, regional differences in six sectors, including household carbon emissions, widened in the 286 prefecture-level-and-above cities in China, while regional differences in 14 sectors, including rural household carbon emissions, narrowed. (2) There were significant intra-group differences in urban household carbon emissions, and the contributions to intra-group differences in carbon emissions differed across the six sectors in the northeast, east, central, and west regions. (3) Although the total and average carbon emissions of each sector increased from 2005 to 2015, China’s carbon emission intensity was decreasing, and carbon productivity is increasing. (4) Carbon emissions per capita (CCE) were positively correlated with GRP per capita, industrial SO 2 emissions per capita, and the proportion of employees in the secondary sector, and negatively correlated with population density and the proportion of employees in the tertiary sector. (5) Resident savings and consumption factors, pollution emission factors, and economic structure factors had a facilitating effect on CCE, while population density factors and economic growth factors have a weakening effect on CCE.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen Li & Heng Li & Xionghe Qin, 2022. "Spatial Heterogeneity of Carbon Emissions and Its Influencing Factors in China: Evidence from 286 Prefecture-Level Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-29, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1226-:d:730944
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1226/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1226/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jing Xie & Qi Sun & Shaohong Wang & Xiaoping Li & Fei Fan, 2020. "Does Environmental Regulation Affect Export Quality? Theory and Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Schipper, Lee & Murtishaw, Scott & Khrushch, Marta & Ting, Michael & Karbuz, Sohbet & Unander, Fridtjof, 2001. "Carbon emissions from manufacturing energy use in 13 IEA countries: long-term trends through 1995," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 667-688, July.
    3. Fei Fan & Dailin Cao & Ning Ma, 2020. "Is Improvement of Innovation Efficiency Conducive to Haze Governance? Empirical Evidence from 283 Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Fei Fan & Shangze Dai & Keke Zhang & Haiqian Ke, 2021. "Innovation agglomeration and urban hierarchy: evidence from Chinese cities," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(54), pages 6300-6318, November.
    5. Chang, Yih F & Lin, Sue J, 1998. "Structural decomposition of industrial CO2 emission in Taiwan: an input-output approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 5-12, January.
    6. Padilla, Emilio & Serrano, Alfredo, 2006. "Inequality in CO2 emissions across countries and its relationship with income inequality: A distributive approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(14), pages 1762-1772, September.
    7. Wang, Shaojian & Fang, Chuanglin & Wang, Yang, 2016. "Spatiotemporal variations of energy-related CO2 emissions in China and its influencing factors: An empirical analysis based on provincial panel data," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 505-515.
    8. Fei Fan & Huan Lian & Song Wang, 2020. "Can regional collaborative innovation improve innovation efficiency? An empirical study of Chinese cities," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 440-463, March.
    9. Jian-qing Zhang & Tingting Chen & Fei Fan & Song Wang, 2018. "Empirical research on time-varying characteristics and efficiency of the Chinese economy and monetary policy: evidence from the MI-TVP-VAR model," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(33), pages 3596-3613, July.
    10. Zhengwen Wang & Yunxiao Zong & Yuwan Dan & Shi-Jie Jiang, 2021. "Country risk and international trade: evidence from the China-B&R countries," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(20), pages 1784-1788, November.
    11. Shuai Liu & Fei Fan & Jianqing Zhang, 2019. "Are Small Cities More Environmentally Friendly? An Empirical Study from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, February.
    12. Cai, Bofeng & Zhang, Lixiao, 2014. "Urban CO2 emissions in China: Spatial boundary and performance comparison," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 557-567.
    13. Haichao Yu & Yan Liu & Chengliang Liu & Fei Fan, 2018. "Spatiotemporal Variation and Inequality in China’s Economic Resilience across Cities and Urban Agglomerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, December.
    14. Haiqian Ke & Wenyi Yang & Xiaoyang Liu & Fei Fan, 2020. "Does Innovation Efficiency Suppress the Ecological Footprint? Empirical Evidence from 280 Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-23, September.
    15. Song Wang & Jiexin Wang & Chenqi Wei & Xueli Wang & Fei Fan, 2021. "Collaborative innovation efficiency: From within cities to between cities—Empirical analysis based on innovative cities in China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(3), pages 1330-1360, September.
    16. Poumanyvong, Phetkeo & Kaneko, Shinji, 2010. "Does urbanization lead to less energy use and lower CO2 emissions? A cross-country analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(2), pages 434-444, December.
    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. Feipeng Guo & Linji Zhang & Zifan Wang & Shaobo Ji, 2022. "Research on Determining the Critical Influencing Factors of Carbon Emission Integrating GRA with an Improved STIRPAT Model: Taking the Yangtze River Delta as an Example," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Yamei Chen & Lu Jiang, 2022. "Influencing Factors of Direct Carbon Emissions of Households in Urban Villages in Guangzhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Liang Guo & Wenjun Cheng & Chang Liu & Qinghao Zhang & Shuo Yang, 2023. "Exploring the Spatial Heterogeneity and Influence Factors of Daily Travel Carbon Emissions in Metropolitan Areas: From the Perspective of the 15-min City," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Chen Li & Jiaji Wu & Yi Huang, 2023. "Spatial–Temporal Patterns and Coupling Characteristics of Rural Elderly Care Institutions in China: Sustainable Human Settlements Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    5. Chen Li & Le Zhang & Qinyi Gu & Jia Guo & Yi Huang, 2022. "Spatio-Temporal Differentiation Characteristics and Urbanization Factors of Urban Household Carbon Emissions in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Sheng Zheng & Yukuan Huang & Yu Sun, 2022. "Effects of Urban Form on Carbon Emissions in China: Implications for Low-Carbon Urban Planning," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, August.
    7. Le Zhang & Qinyi Gu & Chen Li & Yi Huang, 2022. "Characteristics and Spatial–Temporal Differences of Urban “Production, Living and Ecological” Environmental Quality in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-22, November.
    8. Yingao Huang & Chenjun Kuai & Feier Wang, 2024. "Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Green and Low-Carbon Urbanization in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-17, May.

    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. Qianrui Hwang & Min Yao & Shugang Li & Fang Wang & Zhenmin Luo & Zheng Li & Tongshuang Liu, 2023. "Risk Spillovers between China’s Carbon and Energy Markets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Jianwei Zhang & Heng Li & Guoxin Jiao & Jiayi Wang & Jingjing Li & Mengzhen Li & Haining Jiang, 2022. "Spatial Pattern of Technological Innovation in the Yangtze River Delta Region and Its Impact on Water Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-20, June.
    3. Jie Fan & Zhuo Shen & Zhengwen Wang, 2022. "The Threshold Effect of Urban Levels on Environmental Collaborative Governance: An Empirical Analysis from Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Ning Ma & Puyu Liu & Yadong Xiao & Hengyun Tang & Jianqing Zhang, 2022. "Can Green Technological Innovation Reduce Hazardous Air Pollutants?—An Empirical Test Based on 283 Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Zuoming Liu & Changbo Qiu & Min Sun & Dongmin Zhang, 2022. "Environmental Performance Evaluation of Key Polluting Industries in China—Taking the Power Industry as an Example," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-21, June.
    6. Jing Ma & Dan Liu & Zhengwen Wang, 2023. "Sponge City Construction and Urban Economic Sustainable Development: An Ecological Philosophical Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    7. Juan Hu & Chengjin Ma & Chen Li, 2022. "Can Green Innovation Improve Regional Environmental Carrying Capacity? An Empirical Analysis from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Jianqing Zhang & Haichao Yu & Keke Zhang & Liang Zhao & Fei Fan, 2021. "Can Innovation Agglomeration Reduce Carbon Emissions? Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-24, January.
    9. Liang Zhao & Lifei Xu & Ling Li & Jing Hu & Lin Mu, 2022. "Can Inbound Tourism Improve Regional Ecological Efficiency? An Empirical Analysis from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, September.
    10. Lili Yang & Ning Ma, 2022. "Empirical Study on the Influence of Urban Environmental Industrial Structure Optimization on Ecological Landscape Greening Construction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    11. Yunling Ye & Sheng Ye & Haichao Yu, 2021. "Can Industrial Collaborative Agglomeration Reduce Haze Pollution? City-Level Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-22, February.
    12. Min Qian & Zhenpeng Cheng & Zhengwen Wang & Dingyi Qi, 2022. "What Affects Rural Ecological Environment Governance Efficiency? Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Wenyi Yang & Xueli Wang & Keke Zhang & Zikan Ke, 2020. "COVID-19, Urbanization Pattern and Economic Recovery: An Analysis of Hubei, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-21, December.
    14. Liang Zhao & Liangyu Chen, 2022. "Research on the Impact of Government Environmental Information Disclosure on Green Total Factor Productivity: Empirical Experience from Chinese Province," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-20, January.
    15. Haiqian Ke & Bo Yang & Shangze Dai, 2022. "Does Intensive Land Use Contribute to Energy Efficiency?—Evidence Based on a Spatial Durbin Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    16. Mingxia Liu & Wei Jiang, 2022. "Empirical Research on the Influence Mechanisms of Digital Resources Input on Service Innovation in China’s Finance Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-22, June.
    17. Fei Fan & Dailin Cao & Ning Ma, 2020. "Is Improvement of Innovation Efficiency Conducive to Haze Governance? Empirical Evidence from 283 Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-20, August.
    18. Yiping Sun & Xiangyi Li & Tengyuan Zhang & Jiawei Fu, 2022. "Does Trade Policy Uncertainty Exacerbate Environmental Pollution?—Evidence from Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-21, February.
    19. Haiqian Ke & Wenyi Yang & Xiaoyang Liu & Fei Fan, 2020. "Does Innovation Efficiency Suppress the Ecological Footprint? Empirical Evidence from 280 Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-23, September.
    20. Le Zhang & Qinyi Gu & Chen Li & Yi Huang, 2022. "Characteristics and Spatial–Temporal Differences of Urban “Production, Living and Ecological” Environmental Quality in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-22, 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:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1226-:d:730944. 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.