Balancing Carbon Emission Reductions and Social Economic Development for Sustainable Development: Experience from 24 Countries

KANG Meimei; ZHAO Wenwu; JIA Lizhi; LIU Yanxu

doi:10.1007/s11769-020-1117-0

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Chinese Geographical Science > 2020 > 30(3): 379-396

KANG Meimei, ZHAO Wenwu, JIA Lizhi, LIU Yanxu. Balancing Carbon Emission Reductions and Social Economic Development for Sustainable Development: Experience from 24 Countries[J]. Chinese Geographical Science, 2020, 30(3): 379-396. doi: 10.1007/s11769-020-1117-0

Citation:

KANG Meimei, ZHAO Wenwu, JIA Lizhi, LIU Yanxu. Balancing Carbon Emission Reductions and Social Economic Development for Sustainable Development: Experience from 24 Countries[J]. Chinese Geographical Science, 2020, 30(3): 379-396. doi: 10.1007/s11769-020-1117-0

Balancing Carbon Emission Reductions and Social Economic Development for Sustainable Development: Experience from 24 Countries

doi: 10.1007/s11769-020-1117-0

KANG Meimei^1,2,
ZHAO Wenwu^{1,2
,
,},
JIA Lizhi^1,2,
LIU Yanxu^1,2

1. State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
2. Institute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

Funds:

Under the auspices of National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2017YFA0604704), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41861134038), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

Received Date: 2019-05-14
Rev Recd Date: 2019-09-17

Abstract

The impact of human carbon emissions on climate has generated widespread global concern. We selected 24 countries as research objects and analysed the changes in carbon emissions in different countries between the establishment of emission reduction actions in 1990 and 2014. Then, we selected 19 factors representing four categories (economy, population, technology and energy) to explore the key factors that led to changes in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in different countries. Emission reduction actions since 1990 did not lead to marked improvements, and only five countries (Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and France) achieved reductions in carbon emissions. The factors that influenced CO₂ emissions varied among countries. In most developing countries, reductions in CO₂ emissions were caused by reductions in poverty and inherent natural conditions. Moreover, the extent of influence of a given factor on CO₂ emissions differed among countries. The global economic crisis may cause similar fluctuations in CO₂ emissions in many countries. Adjustments to energy and industrial structures are the main reason for the reduction in carbon emissions, whereas economic growth and urbanization are the two major contributors to the growth of carbon emissions. According to historical carbon emissions data, a green energy revolution must be implemented to address global climate change and ensure the sustainable development of human societies.
- carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions,
- climate change,
- economic growth,
- sustainable development

References

[1]	Acemoglu D, Aghion P, Bursztyn L et al., 2012. The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1):131-166. doi: 10.1257/aer.102.1.131
[2]	Cai Y F, Sam C Y, Chang T Y, 2018. Nexus between clean energy consumption, economic growth and CO₂ emissions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 182:1001-1011. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro. 2018.02.035
[3]	Chen C, Park T, Wang X H et al., 2019. China and India lead in greening of the world through land-use management. Nature Sustainability, 2(2):122-129. doi: 10.1038/s41893-019-0220-7
[4]	Christis M, Athanassiadis A, Vercalsteren A, 2019. Implementation at a city level of circular economy strategies and climate change mitigation:the case of Brussels. Journal of Cleaner Production, 218:511-520. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.180
[5]	Dinda S, Coondoo D, 2006. Income and emission:a panel data-based cointegration analysis. Ecological Economics, 57(2):167-181. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.03.028
[6]	Dogan E, Turkekul B, 2016. CO₂ emissions, real output, energy consumption, trade, urbanization and financial development:testing the EKC hypothesis for the USA. Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 23(2):1203-1213. doi: 10.1007/s11356-015-5323-8
[7]	Dong F, Yu B L, Hadachin T et al., 2018. Drivers of carbon emission intensity change in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 129:187-201. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2017. 10.035
[8]	Friedl B, Getzner M, 2003. Determinants of CO₂ emissions in a small open economy. Ecological Economics, 45(1):133-148. doi: 10.1016/S0921-8009(03)00008-9
[9]	Fujii H, Iwata K, Managi S, 2017. How do urban characteristics affect climate change mitigation policies?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 168:271-278. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.221
[10]	Fulton L, Mejia A, Arioli M et al., 2017. Climate change mitigation pathways for Southeast Asia:CO₂ emissions reduction policies for the energy and transport sectors. Sustainability, 9(7):1160. doi: 10.3390/su9071160
[11]	Gorjian S, Zadeh B N, Eltrop L et al., 2019. Solar photovoltaic power generation in Iran:development, policies, and barriers. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 106:110-123. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.02.025
[12]	Grecequet M, Saikawa E, Hellmann J J, 2019. Select but diverse countries are reducing both climate vulnerability and CO₂ emissions. Elementa-Science of the Anthropocene, 7(1):4. doi: 10.1525/elementa.342
[13]	Grossman G M, Krueger A B, 1991. Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement. NBER Working Paper No. 3914. doi: 10.3386/w3914
[14]	Hamilton S E, Friess D A, 2018. Global carbon stocks and potential emissions due to mangrove deforestation from 2000 to 2012. Nature Climate Change, 8(3):240-244. doi: 10.1038/s41558-018-0090-4
[15]	Harwatt H, 2019. Including animal to plant protein shifts in climate change mitigation policy:a proposed three-step strategy. Climate Policy, 19(5):533-541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1528965
[16]	He Z X, Xu S C, Shen W X et al., 2017. Impact of urbanization on energy related CO₂ emission at different development levels:regional difference in china based on panel estimation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140:1719-1730. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.08.155
[17]	Katircioğlu S, Katircioğlu S, 2018. Testing the role of urban development in the conventional Environmental Kuznets Curve:evidence from Turkey. Applied Economics Letters, 25(11):741-746. doi: 10.1080/13504851.2017.1361004
[18]	Keenan R J, 2017. Climate change and Australian production forests:impacts and adaptation. Australian Forestry, 80(4):197-207. doi: 10.1080/00049158.2017.1360170
[19]	Köne A C, Büke T, 2019. Factor analysis of projected carbon dioxide emissions according to the IPCC based sustainable emission scenario in Turkey. Renewable Energy, 133:914-918. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.10.099
[20]	Lean H H, Smyth R, 2010. CO₂ emissions, electricity consumption and output in ASEAN. Applied Energy, 87(6):1858-1864. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.003
[21]	Li G P, Yuan Y, 2014. Impact of regional development on carbon emission:empirical evidence across countries. Chinese Geographical Science, 24(5):499-510. doi: 10.1007/s11769-014-0710-5
[22]	Li J B, Huang X J, Kwan M P et al., 2018. The effect of urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 188:38-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.198
[23]	Li T T, Wang Y, Zhao D T, 2016. Environmental Kuznets curve in China:new evidence from dynamic panel analysis. Energy Policy, 91(2):138-147. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.01.002
[24]	Liao H, Cao H S, 2013. How does carbon dioxide emission change with the economic development? Statistical experiences from 132 countries. Global Environmental Change, 23(5):1073-1082. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.06.006
[25]	Lin B Q, Zhu J P, 2019. The role of renewable energy technological innovation on climate change:empirical evidence from China. Science of the Total Environment, 659:1505-1512. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.449
[26]	Mi Z F, Wei Y M, Wang B et al., 2017. Socioeconomic impact assessment of China's CO₂ emissions peak prior to 2030. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142:2227-2236. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.055
[27]	Mi Z F, Guan D B, Liu Z et al., 2019. Cities:the core of climate change mitigation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 207:582-589. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.034
[28]	Narayan P K, Saboori B, Soleymani A, 2016. Economic growth and carbon emissions. Economic Modelling, 53:388-397. doi: 10.1016/j.econmod.2015.10.027
[29]	Ostrom E, 2009. A general framework for analyzing sustainability of social-ecological systems. Science, 325(5939):419-422. doi: 10.1126/science.1172133
[30]	Peters G P, Minx J C, Weber C L et al., 2011. Growth in emission transfers via international trade from 1990 to 2008. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108(21):8903-8908. doi:10.1073/pnas. 1006388108
[31]	Peters G P, Andrew R M, Canadell J G et al., 2017. Key indicators to track current progress and future ambition of the Paris agreement. Nature Climate Change, 7(2):118-122. doi: 10.1038/nclimate3202
[32]	Qin Dahe, Stocker T, 2014. Highlights of the IPCC working group Ⅰ fifth assessment report. Progressus Inquisitiones De Mutatione Climatis, 10(1):1-6. (in Chinese)
[33]	Shi A Q, 2003. The impact of population pressure on global carbon dioxide emissions, 1975-1996:evidence from pooled cross-country data. Ecological Economics, 44(1):29-42. doi: 10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00223-9
[34]	Soussana J F, Lutfalla S, Ehrhardt F et al., 2019. Matching policy and science:rationale for the ‘4 per 1000-soils for food security and climate’ initiative. Soil and Tillage Research, 188:3-15. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2017.12.002
[35]	van den Bergh J C J M, 2017. Rebound policy in the Paris agreement:instrument comparison and climate-club revenue offsets. Climate Policy, 17(6):801-813. doi:10.1080/14693062.2016. 1169499
[36]	Walsh B, Ciais P, Janssens I A et al., 2017. Pathways for balancing CO₂ emissions and sinks. Nature Communications, 8(1):14856. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14856
[37]	Wang C J, Wang F, Zhang X L et al., 2017. Examining the driving factors of energy related carbon emissions using the extended STIRPAT model based on IPAT identity in Xinjiang. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 67:51-61. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.006
[38]	Wang Y, Zhao T, 2018. Impacts of urbanization-related factors on CO₂ emissions:evidence from China's three regions with varied urbanization levels. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 9(1):15-26. doi: 10.1016/j.apr.2017.06.002
[39]	Wang Z H, Wang C, Yin J H, 2015. Strategies for addressing climate change on the industrial level:affecting factors to CO₂ emissions of energy-intensive industries in China. Natural Hazards, 75(S2):303-317. doi: 10.1007/s11069-014-1115-6
[40]	Xu B, Lin B Q, 2016. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions in China's manufacturing industry:a dynamic vector autoregression approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 131:594-606. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.129
[41]	Xu S C, He Z X, Long R Y et al., 2016. Impacts of economic growth and urbanization on CO₂ emissions:regional differences in China based on panel estimation. Regional Environmental Change, 16(3):777-787. doi: 10.1007/s10113-015-0795-0
[42]	York R, Rosa E A, Dieta T, 2003. STIRPAT, IPAT and IMPACT:analytic tools for unpacking the driving forces of environmental impacts. Ecological Economics, 46(3):351-365. doi: 10.1016/S0921-8009(03)00188-5
[43]	Zhang Y J, Peng Y L, Ma C Q et al., 2017. Can environmental innovation facilitate carbon emissions reduction? Evidence from China. Energy Policy, 100:18-28. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.10.005

Proportional views

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Article Metrics

Article views(409) PDF downloads(122) Cited by()

Proportional views

Balancing Carbon Emission Reductions and Social Economic Development for Sustainable Development: Experience from 24 Countries

1. State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;

2. Institute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

Funds:

Received Date: 2019-05-14

Rev Recd Date: 2019-09-17

Key words:

Abstract: The impact of human carbon emissions on climate has generated widespread global concern. We selected 24 countries as research objects and analysed the changes in carbon emissions in different countries between the establishment of emission reduction actions in 1990 and 2014. Then, we selected 19 factors representing four categories (economy, population, technology and energy) to explore the key factors that led to changes in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in different countries. Emission reduction actions since 1990 did not lead to marked improvements, and only five countries (Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and France) achieved reductions in carbon emissions. The factors that influenced CO₂ emissions varied among countries. In most developing countries, reductions in CO₂ emissions were caused by reductions in poverty and inherent natural conditions. Moreover, the extent of influence of a given factor on CO₂ emissions differed among countries. The global economic crisis may cause similar fluctuations in CO₂ emissions in many countries. Adjustments to energy and industrial structures are the main reason for the reduction in carbon emissions, whereas economic growth and urbanization are the two major contributors to the growth of carbon emissions. According to historical carbon emissions data, a green energy revolution must be implemented to address global climate change and ensure the sustainable development of human societies.

HTML

Reference (43)

[1]	Acemoglu D, Aghion P, Bursztyn L et al., 2012. The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1):131-166. doi:10.1257/aer.102.1.131
[2]	Cai Y F, Sam C Y, Chang T Y, 2018. Nexus between clean energy consumption, economic growth and CO₂ emissions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 182:1001-1011. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro. 2018.02.035
[3]	Chen C, Park T, Wang X H et al., 2019. China and India lead in greening of the world through land-use management. Nature Sustainability, 2(2):122-129. doi:10.1038/s41893-019-0220-7
[4]	Christis M, Athanassiadis A, Vercalsteren A, 2019. Implementation at a city level of circular economy strategies and climate change mitigation:the case of Brussels. Journal of Cleaner Production, 218:511-520. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.180
[5]	Dinda S, Coondoo D, 2006. Income and emission:a panel data-based cointegration analysis. Ecological Economics, 57(2):167-181. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.03.028
[6]	Dogan E, Turkekul B, 2016. CO₂ emissions, real output, energy consumption, trade, urbanization and financial development:testing the EKC hypothesis for the USA. Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 23(2):1203-1213. doi:10.1007/s11356-015-5323-8
[7]	Dong F, Yu B L, Hadachin T et al., 2018. Drivers of carbon emission intensity change in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 129:187-201. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2017. 10.035
[8]	Friedl B, Getzner M, 2003. Determinants of CO₂ emissions in a small open economy. Ecological Economics, 45(1):133-148. doi:10.1016/S0921-8009(03)00008-9
[9]	Fujii H, Iwata K, Managi S, 2017. How do urban characteristics affect climate change mitigation policies?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 168:271-278. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.221
[10]	Fulton L, Mejia A, Arioli M et al., 2017. Climate change mitigation pathways for Southeast Asia:CO₂ emissions reduction policies for the energy and transport sectors. Sustainability, 9(7):1160. doi:10.3390/su9071160
[11]	Gorjian S, Zadeh B N, Eltrop L et al., 2019. Solar photovoltaic power generation in Iran:development, policies, and barriers. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 106:110-123. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2019.02.025
[12]	Grecequet M, Saikawa E, Hellmann J J, 2019. Select but diverse countries are reducing both climate vulnerability and CO₂ emissions. Elementa-Science of the Anthropocene, 7(1):4. doi:10.1525/elementa.342
[13]	Grossman G M, Krueger A B, 1991. Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement. NBER Working Paper No. 3914. doi:10.3386/w3914
[14]	Hamilton S E, Friess D A, 2018. Global carbon stocks and potential emissions due to mangrove deforestation from 2000 to 2012. Nature Climate Change, 8(3):240-244. doi:10.1038/s41558-018-0090-4
[15]	Harwatt H, 2019. Including animal to plant protein shifts in climate change mitigation policy:a proposed three-step strategy. Climate Policy, 19(5):533-541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1528965
[16]	He Z X, Xu S C, Shen W X et al., 2017. Impact of urbanization on energy related CO₂ emission at different development levels:regional difference in china based on panel estimation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140:1719-1730. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.08.155
[17]	Katircioğlu S, Katircioğlu S, 2018. Testing the role of urban development in the conventional Environmental Kuznets Curve:evidence from Turkey. Applied Economics Letters, 25(11):741-746. doi:10.1080/13504851.2017.1361004
[18]	Keenan R J, 2017. Climate change and Australian production forests:impacts and adaptation. Australian Forestry, 80(4):197-207. doi:10.1080/00049158.2017.1360170
[19]	Köne A C, Büke T, 2019. Factor analysis of projected carbon dioxide emissions according to the IPCC based sustainable emission scenario in Turkey. Renewable Energy, 133:914-918. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2018.10.099
[20]	Lean H H, Smyth R, 2010. CO₂ emissions, electricity consumption and output in ASEAN. Applied Energy, 87(6):1858-1864. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.003
[21]	Li G P, Yuan Y, 2014. Impact of regional development on carbon emission:empirical evidence across countries. Chinese Geographical Science, 24(5):499-510. doi:10.1007/s11769-014-0710-5
[22]	Li J B, Huang X J, Kwan M P et al., 2018. The effect of urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 188:38-48. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.198
[23]	Li T T, Wang Y, Zhao D T, 2016. Environmental Kuznets curve in China:new evidence from dynamic panel analysis. Energy Policy, 91(2):138-147. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2016.01.002
[24]	Liao H, Cao H S, 2013. How does carbon dioxide emission change with the economic development? Statistical experiences from 132 countries. Global Environmental Change, 23(5):1073-1082. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.06.006
[25]	Lin B Q, Zhu J P, 2019. The role of renewable energy technological innovation on climate change:empirical evidence from China. Science of the Total Environment, 659:1505-1512. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.449
[26]	Mi Z F, Wei Y M, Wang B et al., 2017. Socioeconomic impact assessment of China's CO₂ emissions peak prior to 2030. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142:2227-2236. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.055
[27]	Mi Z F, Guan D B, Liu Z et al., 2019. Cities:the core of climate change mitigation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 207:582-589. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.034
[28]	Narayan P K, Saboori B, Soleymani A, 2016. Economic growth and carbon emissions. Economic Modelling, 53:388-397. doi:10.1016/j.econmod.2015.10.027
[29]	Ostrom E, 2009. A general framework for analyzing sustainability of social-ecological systems. Science, 325(5939):419-422. doi:10.1126/science.1172133
[30]	Peters G P, Minx J C, Weber C L et al., 2011. Growth in emission transfers via international trade from 1990 to 2008. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108(21):8903-8908. doi:10.1073/pnas. 1006388108
[31]	Peters G P, Andrew R M, Canadell J G et al., 2017. Key indicators to track current progress and future ambition of the Paris agreement. Nature Climate Change, 7(2):118-122. doi:10.1038/nclimate3202
[32]	Qin Dahe, Stocker T, 2014. Highlights of the IPCC working group Ⅰ fifth assessment report. Progressus Inquisitiones De Mutatione Climatis, 10(1):1-6. (in Chinese)
[33]	Shi A Q, 2003. The impact of population pressure on global carbon dioxide emissions, 1975-1996:evidence from pooled cross-country data. Ecological Economics, 44(1):29-42. doi:10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00223-9
[34]	Soussana J F, Lutfalla S, Ehrhardt F et al., 2019. Matching policy and science:rationale for the ‘4 per 1000-soils for food security and climate’ initiative. Soil and Tillage Research, 188:3-15. doi:10.1016/j.still.2017.12.002
[35]	van den Bergh J C J M, 2017. Rebound policy in the Paris agreement:instrument comparison and climate-club revenue offsets. Climate Policy, 17(6):801-813. doi:10.1080/14693062.2016. 1169499
[36]	Walsh B, Ciais P, Janssens I A et al., 2017. Pathways for balancing CO₂ emissions and sinks. Nature Communications, 8(1):14856. doi:10.1038/ncomms14856
[37]	Wang C J, Wang F, Zhang X L et al., 2017. Examining the driving factors of energy related carbon emissions using the extended STIRPAT model based on IPAT identity in Xinjiang. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 67:51-61. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.006
[38]	Wang Y, Zhao T, 2018. Impacts of urbanization-related factors on CO₂ emissions:evidence from China's three regions with varied urbanization levels. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 9(1):15-26. doi:10.1016/j.apr.2017.06.002
[39]	Wang Z H, Wang C, Yin J H, 2015. Strategies for addressing climate change on the industrial level:affecting factors to CO₂ emissions of energy-intensive industries in China. Natural Hazards, 75(S2):303-317. doi:10.1007/s11069-014-1115-6
[40]	Xu B, Lin B Q, 2016. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions in China's manufacturing industry:a dynamic vector autoregression approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 131:594-606. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.129
[41]	Xu S C, He Z X, Long R Y et al., 2016. Impacts of economic growth and urbanization on CO₂ emissions:regional differences in China based on panel estimation. Regional Environmental Change, 16(3):777-787. doi:10.1007/s10113-015-0795-0
[42]	York R, Rosa E A, Dieta T, 2003. STIRPAT, IPAT and IMPACT:analytic tools for unpacking the driving forces of environmental impacts. Ecological Economics, 46(3):351-365. doi:10.1016/S0921-8009(03)00188-5
[43]	Zhang Y J, Peng Y L, Ma C Q et al., 2017. Can environmental innovation facilitate carbon emissions reduction? Evidence from China. Energy Policy, 100:18-28. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2016.10.005

Balancing Carbon Emission Reductions and Social Economic Development for Sustainable Development: Experience from 24 Countries

doi: 10.1007/s11769-020-1117-0

Abstract

References

Proportional views

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Article Metrics

Proportional views

Related