Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Uncovering the driving forces of carbon dioxide emissions in Chinese manufacturing industry: An intersectoral analysis

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As the pillar of national economy, manufacturing industry is the largest primary energy consumer and emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) in China. Therefore, capturing the determinants of CO2 emissions in manufacturing industry is extremely important for national efforts to mitigate carbon emissions. This paper explores the major driving forces behind CO2 emission changes in China’s manufacturing industry during 2000–2015 from perspectives of the whole sector and 28 subsectors, by applying the temporal logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method. Moreover, an intersectoral LMDI model is built to uncover the intersectoral discrepancies of CO2 emissions among 28 subsectors. The temporal analysis indicates that industrial activity and energy intensity are crucial factors respectively contributing to the increase and mitigation of CO2 emissions. The intersectoral analysis reveals that energy intensity is the dominant factor responsible for the intersectoral discrepancies of CO2 emissions among 28 subsectors. The great mitigation towards CO2 emissions can be achieved if energy efficiency is largely improved in carbon-intensive subsectors. Priority should be given by governments to the industrial technology advancement, such as subsidies for energy-saving technological transformation and promotion of international advanced techniques and equipment, which can greatly improve production efficiency and mitigate emissions in manufacturing industry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akbostancı E, Tunç GI, Asık ST (2011) CO2 emissions of Turkish manufacturing industry: a decomposition analysis. Appl Energy 88(6):2273–2278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ang BW (2004) Decomposition analysis for policymaking in energy: which is the preferred method? Energy Policy 32:1131–1139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ang BW (2005) The LMDI approach to decomposition analysis: a practical guide. Energy Policy 33(7):867–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ang BW, Choi KH (1997) Decomposition of aggregate energy and gas emission intensities for industry: a refined Divisia index method. Energy 18(3):59–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Ang BW, Liu FL (2001) A new energy decomposition method: perfect in decomposition and consistent in aggregation. Energy 26:537–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ang BW, Xu XY, Su B (2015) Multi-country comparisons of energy performance: the index decomposition analysis approach. Energy Econ 47:68–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang L (2014) Analysis and forecast of CO2 emissions in China’s manufacturing industry. Dissertation, Dalian University of Technology (in Chinese)

  • Deja J, Uliasz-Bochenczyk A, Mokrzycki E (2010) CO2 emissions from Polish cement industry. Int J Greenhouse Gas Control 4(4):583–588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diakoulaki D, Mandaraka M (2007) Decomposition analysis for assessing the progress in decoupling industrial growth from CO2 emissions in the EU manufacturing sector. Energy Econ 29(4):636–664

  • Dong JF, Wang Q, Deng C, Wang XM, Zhang XL (2016) How to move China toward a green-energy economy: from a sector perspective. Sustainability 8:337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du G, Sun CW, Ouyang XL, Zhang C (2018) A decomposition analysis of energy-related CO2 emissions in Chinese six high-energy intensive industries. J Clean Prod 184:1102–1112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan T, Luo R, Xia H, Li X (2015) Using LMDI method to analyze the influencing factors of carbon emissions in China’s petrochemical industries. Nat Hazards 75(2):319–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond GP, Norman JB (2012) Decomposition analysis of energy-related carbon emissions from UK manufacturing. Energy 41:220–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han L, Han BT, Shi XP, Su B, Lv X, Lei X (2018) Energy efficiency convergence across countries in the context of China’s Belt and Road initiative. Appl Energy 213:112–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hang Y, Wang QW, Zhou DQ, Zhang L (2019) Factors influencing the progress in decoupling economic growth from carbon dioxide emissions in China’s manufacturing industry. Resour Conserv Recycl 146:77–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Zhao J, Geng Y, Tian JP (2017) Energy-related GHG emissions of the textile industry in China. Resour Conserv Recycl 119:69–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeong K, Kim S (2013) LMDI decomposition analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in the Korean manufacturing sector. Energy Policy 62:1245–1253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kopidou D, Tsakanikas A, Diakoulaki D (2016) Common trends and drivers of CO2 emissions and employment: a decomposition analysis in the industrial sector of selected European Union countries. J Clean Prod 112(5):4159–4172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Zhao Y, Qiao X, Liu Y, Cao Y, Li Y, Wang S, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Weng J (2017) Identifying the driving forces of national and regional CO2 emissions in China: Based on temporal and spatial decomposition analysis models. Energy Econ 68:522–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Shao S, Shi XP, Sun YP, Zhang XL (2019) Structural transformation of manufacturing, natural resource dependence, and carbon emissions reduction: evidence of a threshold effect from China. J Clean Prod 206:920–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang W, Gan T, Zhang W (2019) Dynamic evolution of characteristics and decomposition of factors influencing industrial carbon dioxide emissions in China: 1991-2015. Struct Chang Econ Dyn 49:93–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao XC, Shi XP (2018) Public appeal, environmental regulation and green investment: Evidence from China. Energy Policy 119:554–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin B, Du K (2014) Decomposing energy intensity change: a combination of index decomposition analysis and production-theoretical decomposition analysis. Appl Energy 129:158–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin B, Lei X (2015) Carbon emissions reduction in China’s food industry. Energy Policy 86:483–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin B, Long H (2016) Emissions reduction in China’s chemical industry-based on LMDI. Renew Sust Energ Rev 53:1348–1355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin B, Moubarak M (2013) Decomposition analysis: change of carbon dioxide emissions in the Chinese textile industry. Renew Sust Energ Rev 26:389–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin B, Ouyang X (2014) Analysis of energy-related CO2 emissions and reduction potential in the Chinese non-metallic mineral products industry. Energy 68:688–697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Shi XP, Laurenceson J (2018) Are China’s exports crowding out or being crowded out? Evidence from Japan’s imports. Chin World Econ 26(4):1–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma CB (2014) A multi-fuel, multi-sector and multi-region approach to index decomposition: an application to China’s energy consumption 1995–2010. Energy Econ 42:9–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malla S (2010) Corrigendum to “CO2 emissions from electricity generation in seven Asia-Pacific and North American countries: a decomposition analysis”. Energy Policy 38:6387–6387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohmmed A, Li ZH, Arowolo AO, Su HB, Deng XZ, Najmuddin O, Zhang Y (2019) Driving factors of CO2 emissions and nexus with economic growth, development and human health in the top ten emitting countries. Resour Conserv Recycl 148:157–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NBS (2017) Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities (GB/T4754-2017). National Bureau of Statistics (in Chinese)

  • Ouyang X, Lin B (2015) An analysis of the driving forces of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in China’s industrial sector. Renew Sust Energ Rev 45:838–849

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parker S, Liddle B (2016) Energy efficiency in the manufacturing sector of the OECD: analysis of price elasticities. Energy Econ 58:38–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker S, Liddle B (2017) Economy-wide and manufacturing energy productivity transition paths and club convergence for OECD and non-OECD countries. Energy Econ 62:338–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shan Z, Qin S, Liu Q, Liu F (2012) Key manufacturing technology and equipment for energy saving and emissions reduction in mechanical equipment industry. Int J Precis Eng Manuf 13(7):1095–1100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shan YL, Liu JH, Liu Z, Xu XWH, Shao S, Wang P, Guan DB (2016) New provincial CO2 emission inventories in China based on apparent energy consumption data and updated emission factors. Appl Energy 184:742–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shan YL, Guan DB, Zheng HR, Ou JM, Li Y, Meng J, Mi ZF, Liu Z, Zhang Q (2018) China CO2 emission accounts 1997-2015. Sci Data 5:170201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi YY, Han BT, Han L, Wei ZX (2019) Uncovering the national and regional household carbon emissions in China using temporal and spatial decomposition analysis models. J Clean Prod 232:966–979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song Y, Huang JB, Feng C (2018) Decomposition of energy-related CO2 emissions in China’s iron and steel industry: a comprehensive decomposition framework. Res Policy 59:103–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun WQ, Cai JJ, Mao HJ, Guan DJ (2011) Change in carbon dioxide emissions form energy use in China’s iron and steel industry. J Iron Steel Res Int 18(6):31–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun YP, Zou X, Shi XP, Zhang P (2019) The economic impact of climate risks in China: evidence from 47-sector panel data, 2000-2014. Nat Hazards 95(1-2):289–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan XC, Li H, Guo JX, Gu BH, Zeng Y (2019) Energy-saving and emission-reduction technology selection and CO2 emission reduction potential of China’s iron and steel industry under energy substitution policy. J Clean Prod 222:823–834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian Y, Zhu Q, Geng Y (2013) An analysis of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the Chinese iron and steel industry. Energy Policy 56:352–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian J, Shan YL, Zheng HR, Lin XY, Liang X, Guan DB (2019) Structural patterns of city-level CO2 emissions in Northwest China. J Clean Prod 223:553–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C (2016) Factors affecting CO2 emissions in manufacturing industry. J Chem Eng Des Commun 42(12):127–128 (in Chinese)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XL, Lin BQ (2017) Factor and fuel substitution in China’s iron & steel industry: evidence and policy implications. J Clean Prod 141:751–759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Nie R (2012) Analysis of evolution characteristics and influencing factors of carbon emissions in China’s manufacturing industry. J Arid Land Res Environ 26(9):132–136 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Zhu Q, Geng Y (2013) Trajectory and driving factors for GHG emissions in the Chinese cement industry. J Clean Prod 53:252–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JW, Liao H, Tang BJ, Ke RY, Wei YM (2017) Is the CO2 emissions reduction from scale change, structural change or technology change? Evidence from non-metallic sector of 11 major economies in 1995-2009. J Clean Prod 148:148–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JY, Wang K, Shi XP, Wei YM (2019a) Spatial heterogeneity and driving forces of environmental productivity growth in China: would it help to switch pollutant discharge fees to environmental taxes? J Clean Prod 223:36–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang KY, Wu M, Sun YP, Shi XP, Sun A, Zhang P (2019b) Resource abundance, industrial structure, and regional carbon emissions efficiency in China. Res Policy 60:203–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SG, Zhu XJ, Song D, Wen ZG, Chen B, Feng KS (2019c) Drivers of CO2 emissions from power generation in China based on modified structural decomposition analysis. J Clean Prod 220:1143–1155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei ZX, Han BT, Han L, Shi YY (2019) Factor substitution, diversified sources on biased technological progress and decomposition of energy intensity in China’s high-tech industry. J Clean Prod 231:87–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xian YJ, Wang K, Shi XP, Zhang C, Wei YM, Huang ZM (2018) Carbon emissions intensity reduction target for China’s power industry: an efficiency and productivity perspective. J Clean Prod 197:1022–1034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie X, Shao S, Lin B (2016) Exploring the driving forces and mitigation pathways of CO2 emissions in China’s petroleum refining and coking industry: 1995-2031. Appl Energy 184:1004–1015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu B, Lin BQ (2016) Reducing carbon dioxide emissions in China’s manufacturing industry: a dynamic vector autoregression approach. J Clean Prod 131:594–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu RJ, Lin BQ (2017) Why are there large regional differences in CO2 emissions? Evidence from China’s manufacturing industry. J Clean Prod 140:1330–1343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu B, Lin BQ (2018) Investigating the role of high-tech industry in reducing China’s CO2 emissions: a regional perspective. J Clean Prod 177:169–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu JH, Tobias F, Wolfgang E, Fan Y (2012) Energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China’s cement industry: a perspective from LMDI decomposition analysis. Energy Policy 50:821–832

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu RJ, Xu L, Xu B (2017) Assessing CO2 emissions in China’s iron and steel industry: evidence from quantile regression approach. J Clean Prod 152:259–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan X, Fang YP (2015) CO2 emissions and mitigation potential of the Chinese manufacturing industry. J Clean Prod 103:759–773

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Q, Zhang Q, Zou X (2016) Decomposition analysis of carbon dioxide emissions in China’s regional thermal electricity generation, 2000-2020. Energy 112:788–794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu B, Li X, Qiao YB, Shi L (2015) Low-carbon transition of iron and steel industry in China: carbon intensity, economic growth and policy intervention. J Environ Sci 28:137–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J (2006) Whither the car? China’s automobile industry and cleaner vehicle technologies. Dev Chang 37(1):121–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Li H, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Wang S, Liu Y (2016) Decomposition and scenario analysis of CO2 emissions in China’s power industry: based on LMDI method. Nat Hazards 86(2):645–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou G, Chung W, Zhang Y (2014) Carbon dioxide emissions and energy efficiency analysis of China’s regional thermal electricity generation. J Clean Prod 83:173–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu L (2012) Analysis on the energy-related CO2 emissions of Chinese manufacturing industry. Dissertation, Fudan University (in Chinese)

Download references

Funding

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.71673023) and China Scholarship Council ([2017]3109).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zixiang Wei.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

The average CO2 emissions from electricity and heat consumption can be calculated as follows:

$$ {CO}_{2i}=\frac{E_i\times \sum \limits_j{CO}_{2j}}{E_{\mathrm{fossil}}+{E}_{\mathrm{nuclear}}+{E}_{\mathrm{renewable}}+{E}_{\mathrm{recycle}}} $$
(13)

where CO2i denotes indirect CO2 emissions from electricity and heat consumption in subsector iEi denotes the electricity and heat combustion in subsector iCO2j denotes direct CO2 emissions from fossil fuel j for electricity and heat generation; EfossilEnuclearErenewableErecycle denote the generation of electricity or heat by combustion of fossil fuels, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and recycle energy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shi, Y., Han, B., Zafar, M.W. et al. Uncovering the driving forces of carbon dioxide emissions in Chinese manufacturing industry: An intersectoral analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 31434–31448 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06303-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06303-7

Keywords

Navigation