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Regional Differences in Fossil Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in China’s Eight Economic Regions: Based on the Theil Index and PLS-VIP Method

Author

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  • Xianzhao Liu

    (School of Resource, Environment and Safety Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

  • Xu Yang

    (School of Resource, Environment and Safety Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

  • Ruoxin Guo

    (School of Resource, Environment and Safety Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

Abstract

Determining differences in regional carbon emissions and the factors that affect these differences is important in the realization of differentiated emissions mitigation policies. This paper adopts the Theil index and the partial least square-variable importance of projection (PLS-VIP) method to analyze the change characteristics, regional differences and causes of carbon emissions, as well as the extent to which various factors influenced carbon emissions in China’s eight economic regions in 2005–2017. The results indicate that (1) during the study period, carbon emissions in the eight economic regions displayed a rigid uptrend with a phased characteristic. The growth rates of carbon emissions were different across the studied regions. (2) The overall difference in regional carbon emissions showed an increasing trend, mainly owing to increasing interregional differences. (3) The extent of the influence and explanatory ability of each factor on regional carbon emissions and discrepancies in carbon emissions were different. Population size, economic development, and energy intensity were found to be the three main factors influencing regional carbon emission changes. Industrial structure and urbanization were also contributors to regional differences in emissions. The influence of energy structure on regional carbon emissions and its explanatory power were weak on the whole, but its elastic coefficients and VIP values changed significantly. Finally, regionally targeted proposals for emissions mitigation are offered.

Suggested Citation

  • Xianzhao Liu & Xu Yang & Ruoxin Guo, 2020. "Regional Differences in Fossil Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in China’s Eight Economic Regions: Based on the Theil Index and PLS-VIP Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2576-:d:336598
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    2. 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).
    3. Shengyun Wang & Yaxin Zhang & Huwei Wen, 2021. "Comprehensive Measurement and Regional Imbalance of China’s Green Development Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Chulin Pan & Huayi Wang & Hongpeng Guo & Hong Pan, 2021. "How Do the Population Structure Changes of China Affect Carbon Emissions? An Empirical Study Based on Ridge Regression Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.

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