Index Decomposition Analysis on Factors Affecting Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Residential Consumption in Beijing

Beijing’s residential CO 2 emissions have become the main growth point of CO 2 emissions. However, the impact factors of the direct energy-related CO 2 emissions from residents in Beijing have not been previously evaluated. This paper accessed the key factors that affect the residents’ CO 2 emissions in Beijing from 1995 to 2015, using a newly built decomposition model with generalized Fisher index (GFI) and M-P model. The results were compared between urban and rural areas. Urban residential CO 2 emissions did not change during 1995–1999 but then grew rapidly after 1999, while rural residential CO 2 emissions fluctuated during the studied period. Increased per capita income is the most important pulling factor for the growth of residential CO 2 emissions, while energy consumption intensity is a decisive factor in inhibiting residential CO 2 emissions. Population size plays a pulling role in the growth of residential CO 2 emissions. Energy structure exerts a role in inhibiting residential CO 2 emissions, and its inhibition effect is stronger for urban residents. Average consumption propensity inhibits urban residential CO 2 emissions but has little effect on rural residential CO 2 emissions. The population migration from rural to urban areas in the urbanization process increases residential CO 2 emissions. To reduce residential CO 2 emissions, several recommendations have been proposed.