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CO2 Emissions Embodied in China's Exports from 2002 to 2008: A Structural Decomposition Analysis

CSS Publication Number
CSS11-19
Full Publication Date
November 2011
Abstract

This study examines the annual CO2 emissions embodied in China's exports from 2002 to 2008 using environmental input–output analysis. Four driving forces, including emission intensity, economic production structure, export composition, and total export volume, are compared for their contributions to the increase of embodied CO2 emissions using a structural decomposition analysis (SDA) technique. Although offset by the decrease in emission intensity, the increase of embodied CO2 emissions was driven by changes of the other three factors. In particular, the change of the export composition was the largest driver, primarily due to the increasing fraction of metal products in China's total export. Relevant policy implications and future research directions are discussed at the end of the paper.

Co-Author(s)
John C. Crittenden
Ran Li
Yongsheng Chen
Research Areas
Materials
Urban Systems and Built Environment
Keywords
China, emissions embodied in trade, input-output analysis
Publication Type
Journal Article
Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.08.068
Full Citation
Xu, M.; Li, R.; Crittenden, J. C.; Chen, Y.-S. (2011) “CO2 emissions embodied in China’s exports from 2002 to 2008: a structural decomposition analysis.” Energy Policy 39 (11), 7381-7388.