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Zhang H, Zhang W, Lu Y, Wang Y, Shan Y, Ping L, Li H, Lee LC, Wang T, Liang C, Jiang H, Cao D. Worsening Carbon Inequality Embodied in Trade within China. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:863-873. [PMID: 36606532 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The mismatch between trade-embodied economic benefits and CO2 emissions causes carbon inequality, which is seldom analyzed from the intracountry level, especially across a long-term period. This study applied an environmentally extended multiregional input-output model to trace this mismatch and measure the carbon inequality quantitatively within China during 2007-2017. The results show that during the past decade, China's national carbon inequality was continuously worsening with carbon Gini coefficients rising regardless of production- (0.21-0.30) or consumption-based (0.12-0.18) accounting. The regional carbon inequality was deteriorating, where less developed provinces with 20% of total value-added emitted 32.9% of total CO2 emissions in 2007, while this figure rose to 42.6% in 2017. The eastern provinces (Jiangsu and Shanghai) had entered into net economic and carbon beneficiaries keeping high trade advantages, by contrast the northwest provinces (Ningxia and Xinjiang) were trapped in a lose-lose situation with trade benefits declining by 68%. The southwest provinces (Yunnan and Guangxi) shifted from being net carbon and value-added exporters to net importers, stepping into the earlier development mode of eastern provinces. This hidden and exacerbated carbon inequality calls for regional-specific measures to avoid the dilemma of economic development and CO2 mitigation, which also gives a good reminder for the rising economies, like India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin300350, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Planning and Policy Simulation, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Planning and Policy Simulation, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
- The Center for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Regional Environment, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
| | - Yaling Lu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Planning and Policy Simulation, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
- The Center for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Regional Environment, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin300350, China
| | - Yuli Shan
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, BirminghamB15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Liying Ping
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin300350, China
| | - Heng Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin300350, China
| | - Lien-Chieh Lee
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi435003, China
| | - Tingyu Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin300350, China
| | - Chen Liang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin300350, China
| | - Hongqiang Jiang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Planning and Policy Simulation, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
- The Center for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Regional Environment, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
| | - Dong Cao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Planning and Policy Simulation, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
- The Center for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Regional Environment, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing100012, China
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