Efficient distribution of carbon emissions reduction targets at the city level: A case of Yangtze River Delta region. (20th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Zhiqing; Geng, Yong; Dong, Huijuan; Wilson, Jeffrey; Micic, Tatyana; Wu, Rui; Cui, Xiaowei; Qian, Yiying; You, Wei; Sun, Huaping
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 172(2018)
• Page Start: 1711
• Page End: 1721
• Publication Date: 2018-01-20
• Subjects: Carbon emissions reduction allocation -- Efficient distribution -- Prefecture-level city -- Methods integration; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: The Chinese central government has released detailed carbon emissions abatement targets at the provincial level, but provides no specific emissions reduction targets at the city level. Most provincial governments simply allocate carbon emissions reduction tasks to their cities based on the GDP of their cities. Allocation approaches, however, should emphasize the most effective distribution to reach overall targets that reflect actual reduction capacities of cities. This paper proposes an allocation method at the city level by combining a data envelop analysis method, an entropy weight method and a clustering analysis method using the Yangtze River Delta region as a case study. Results of our analysis indicate that cities with higher carbon emissions abatement potentials, financial abilities, a larger number of above-scaled industrial enterprises and higher GDP are better positioned to reduce carbon emissions and should be assigned proportionately higher reduction targets. The merits and policy implications of the proposed approach are discussed in comparison to simply using GDP to allocate emission reduction targets. Highlights: We formulate carbon emissions reduction targets of prefecture-level cities in YRD region. We redistribute carbon emissions reduction targets on basis of 12 th Five Year Plan. We combine a DEA model, entropy weight method and clustering analysis. Classification of carbon emissions could efficiently achieve reduction targets.