From production-based to consumption-based regional carbon inventories: Insight from spatial production fragmentation. (1st February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zengkai; Lin, Jintai
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 211(2018)
• Page Start: 549
• Page End: 567
• Publication Date: 2018-02-01
• Subjects: Carbon accounting -- Carbon transfer -- Spatial production fragmentation -- Border-crossing frequency -- Input-output model; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.11.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: We analyze the link from production-based to consumption-based accounting. We trace carbon transfer path along production chains at the spatial level. The average economic length of carbon transfer within China in 2010 was 1.34. Spatial production fragmentation hinders the shift of carbon accounting. There is a negative relation between economic length and magnitude of carbon transfer. Abstract: The key distinction between production-based and consumption-based accounting lies in the way in which trade-embodied emissions are allocated between producer and consumer regions. Yet, these two regions are not necessarily directly connected to each other in supply chains, due to spatial production fragmentation. To better understand the link from the production-based to the consumption-based regional carbon inventories, this paper defines the economic length of carbon transfer (ELCT) as the number of administrative border-crossing involved in the influence process of a region's final demand on the carbon emissions of another region. Using a multi-regional input-output analysis framework for China, we propose an approach to calculating the ELCT related to a region's production or demand for domestic consumption or international export. We find that the average ELCT in 2010 is 1.34 and that more than a quarter of interregional carbon transfer crosses provincial borders twice or more. The provincial and sectoral analysis of ELCT reveals that spatial production fragmentation is an important challenge to be conquered for successful implementation of consumption-based climate regulations.