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Mapping global carbon footprint in China

Author

Listed:
  • Yuantao Yang

    (Beijing Institute of Technology
    Beijing Institute of Technology
    Beijing Institute of Technology
    University of Michigan)

  • Shen Qu

    (University of Michigan)

  • Bofeng Cai

    (Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning)

  • Sai Liang

    (School of Environment, Beijing Normal University)

  • Zhaohua Wang

    (Beijing Institute of Technology
    Beijing Institute of Technology
    Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Jinnan Wang

    (Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning)

  • Ming Xu

    (University of Michigan
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan)

Abstract

Developing localized climate mitigation strategies needs an understanding of how global consumption drives local carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with a fine spatial resolution. There is no study that provides a spatially explicit mapping of global carbon footprint in China―the world’s largest CO2 emitter―simultaneously considering both international and interprovincial trade. Here we map CO2 emissions in China driven by global consumption in 2012 at a high spatial resolution (10 km × 10 km) using a detailed, firm-level emission inventory. Our results show that the carbon footprints of foreign regions in China are concentrated in key manufacturing hubs, including the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and North China Plain. Approximately 1% of the land area holds 75% of the global carbon footprint in China. The carbon footprint hotspots in China identified are the key places in which collaborative mitigation efforts between China and downstream parties that drive those emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuantao Yang & Shen Qu & Bofeng Cai & Sai Liang & Zhaohua Wang & Jinnan Wang & Ming Xu, 2020. "Mapping global carbon footprint in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15883-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15883-9
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    2. Aditya Prana Iswara & Aulia Ulfah Farahdiba & Rachmat Boedisantoso & Anwar Rosyid & Sunu Priambodo & Lin-Han Chiang Hsieh, 2023. "Carbon footprint of offshore platform in Indonesia using life cycle approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 11263-11284, October.
    3. Sharath Ankathi & Zifeng Lu & George G. Zaimes & Troy Hawkins & Yu Gan & Michael Wang, 2022. "Greenhouse gas emissions from the global transportation of crude oil: Current status and mitigation potential," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 2045-2056, December.
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    8. Lin Liu & Heinz Schandl & James West & Meng Jiang & Zijian Ren & Dingjiang Chen & Bing Zhu, 2022. "Copper ore material footprints and transfers embodied in domestic and international trade of provinces in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1423-1436, August.
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    10. Jianjian He & Siqi Wang & Reinout Heijungs & Yi Yang & Shumiao Shu & Weiwen Zhang & Anqi Xu & Kai Fang, 2024. "Interprovincial food trade aggravates China’s land scarcity," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    11. Qingchun Guan & Tianya Meng & Chengyang Guan & Junwen Chen & Hui Li & Xu Zhou, 2024. "Multi-Scale Analysis of Carbon Emissions in Coastal Cities Based on Multi-Source Data: A Case Study of Qingdao, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, November.
    12. Wang, Xin & Yang, Jianxun & Zhou, Qi & Liu, Miaomiao & Bi, Jun, 2022. "Mapping the exchange between embodied economic benefits and CO2 emissions among Belt and Road Initiative countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    13. Adedayo Johnson Ogungbile & Geoffrey Qiping Shen & Ibrahim Yahaya Wuni & Jin Xue & Jingke Hong, 2021. "A Hybrid Framework for Direct CO 2 Emissions Quantification in China’s Construction Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-22, November.
    14. Jin, Yi & Behrens, Paul & Tukker, Arnold & Scherer, Laura, 2021. "The energy-water nexus of China’s interprovincial and seasonal electric power transmission," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    15. Peng Chen & Hanwen Wang & Mingxing Guo & Jianjun Wang & Sinan Cai & Min Li & Kaining Sun & Yukun Wang, 2022. "Decomposition Analysis of Regional Embodied Carbon Flow and Driving Factors—Taking Shanghai as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.
    16. Delera, Michele, 2021. "Is production in global value chains (GVCs) sustainable? A review of the empirical evidence on social and environmental sustainabilitiy in GVCs," PEGNet Policy Studies 04/2020, PEGNet - Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    17. Junling Wang & Lihong Qin & Hanfang Chu, 2023. "Evaluation of Carbon Emission and Carbon Contribution Capacity Based on the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-26, March.
    18. Bingjiang Luan & Hanshuo Yang & Hong Zou & Xi Yu, 2023. "The impact of the digital economy on inter-city carbon transfer in China using the life cycle assessment model," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    19. Su, Dan & Cao, Yu & Wang, Jiayi & Fang, Xiaoqian & Wu, Qing, 2023. "Toward constructing an eco-account of cultivated land by quantifying the resources flow and eco-asset transfer in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    20. Miao, Ankang & Yuan, Yue & Wu, Han & Ma, Xin & Shao, Chenyu & Xiang, Sheng, 2024. "Pathway for China's provincial carbon emission peak: A case study of the Jiangsu Province," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    21. Limin Wen & Shufang Sun, 2023. "The Impact of Urban E-Commerce Transformation on Carbon Emissions in Chinese Cities: An Empirical Analysis Based on the PSM-DID Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    22. Ding, Dan & Liu, Xiaoping & Xu, Xiaocong, 2024. "Projecting the future fine-resolution carbon dioxide emissions under the shared socioeconomic pathways for carbon peak evaluation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    23. Ren, Bo & Li, Huajiao & Wang, Xingxing & Shi, Jianglan & Ma, Ning & Qi, Yajie, 2022. "The flow of embodied minerals between China's provinces and the world: A nested supply chain network perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    24. Sun, Jingxin & Sun, Shikun & Yin, Yali & Wang, Yubao & Zhao, Jinfeng & Tang, Yihe & Wu, Pute, 2024. "Decoupling trend and drivers between grain water‑carbon footprint and economy-ecology development in China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).

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