The decoupling effect and driving factors of carbon footprint in megacities: The case study of Xi'an in western China. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Yi; Meng, Guanfei
• Is Part Of: Sustainable cities and society. Volume 44(2019)
• Page Start: 783
• Page End: 792
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Carbon footprint -- Carbon deficit pressure index -- Decoupling index -- Driving factors -- Xi'an; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable buildings -- Periodicals; Urban ecology (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2018.11.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6707

Abstract

Highlights: The emission source account model was used to analyse four carbon footprint accounts in Xi'an of Chinese western megacity. Decoupling effect and driving factors in Xi'an were interpreted based on carbon footprint model. The arbon footprint exhibit a relationship of "connecting-decoupling-re-hook-re-decoupling" with economic growth. The most important driving factors of carbon footprint is per capita residential building area. The urbanization rate restrains the growth of the carbon footprint. Abstract: China plans to pursue low-carbon development in its western megacities to control greenhouse gas emissions. Using the " 2006 IPCC and the Chinese Guidelines", the carbon footprint (CF), carbon carrying capacity, carbon deficit and carbon deficit pressure index of Xi'an were measured from 2007 to 2016. Then, the decoupling indicator was used to analyse the dynamic relationship between the urban CF and economic growth using partial least squares to explore the driving factors of CF. The results show that: (1) the CF increased from 23.34 million t CO2 eq to 32.25 million t CO2 eq, with average annual growth being 4.01%. The energy consumption accounts contributed 69.51%, far exceeding other accounts. (2) The carbon carrying capacity of Xi'an decreased from 7.78 million t CO2 eq to 7.45 million t CO2 eq, with an average annual reduction of 0.47%. The carbon deficit index fluctuated in the interval [−2.57%, 17.09%], indicating that Xi'an was in the ecological stress relief and the mildly enhanced zone. The total CF and the CF of each account exhibit a relationship of "connecting-decoupling-re-hook-re-decoupling" with economic growth. (3) The most important driver of CF growth is the per capita residential building area, while the urbanization rate restrains the growth of the CF.