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Drivers of change in China's energy-related CO₂ emissions.

ABSTRACT: CO₂ emissions are of global concern because of climate change. China has become the largest CO₂ emitter in the world and presently accounts for 30% of global emissions. Here, we analyze the major drivers of energy-related CO₂ emissions in China from 1978 when the reform and opening-up policy was launched. We find that 1) there has been a 6-fold increase in energy-related CO₂ emissions, which was driven primarily (176%) by economic growth followed by population growth (16%), while the effects of energy intensity (-79%) and carbon intensity (-13%) slowed the growth of carbon emissions over most of this period; 2) energy-related CO₂ emissions are positively related to per capita gross domestic product (GDP), population growth rate, carbon intensity, and energy intensity; and 3) a portfolio of command-and-control policies affecting the drivers has altered the total emission trend. However, given the major role of China in global climate change mitigation, significant future reductions in China's CO₂ emissions will require transformation toward low-carbon energy systems.

SUBMITTER: Zheng X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6955364 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Drivers of change in China's energy-related CO2 emissions.

Zheng Xiaoqi X Lu Yonglong Y Yuan Jingjing J Baninla Yvette Y Zhang Sheng S Stenseth Nils Chr NC Hessen Dag O DO Tian Hanqin H Obersteiner Michael M Chen Deliang D

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20191223 1

CO2 emissions are of global concern because of climate change. China has become the largest CO2 emitter in the world and presently accounts for 30% of global emissions. Here, we analyze the major drivers of energy-related CO2 emissions in China from 1978 when the reform and opening-up policy was launched. We find that 1) there has been a 6-fold increase in energy-related CO2 emissions, which was driven primarily (176%) by economic growth followed by po ...[more]

PMID: 31871172

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Drivers of change in China's energy-related CO₂ emissions.

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Drivers of change in China's energy-related CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.

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