Embedded energy flow and its industrial chain pathways in interprovincial trade within the Yellow River Basin

Abstract

[Objective] Energy-related carbon emissions are a major cause of climate warming. Clarifying the patterns of energy embedded in interprovincial trade within the Yellow River Basin and identifying the industrial chain pathways of key sectors are crucial for reasonably controlling total energy consumption. This is of significant importance for achieving China’s dual carbon goals and promoting high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. [Methods] Based on the interregional input-output table data of 30 provinces in China’s mainland from 2007 to 2017, this study applied a multi-regional input-output model and structural path analysis to explore the change of embedded energy patterns in interprovincial trade within the Yellow River Basin and to identify the industrial chain pathways of key sectors. [Results] (1) The Yellow River Basin as a whole is a production-oriented energy region, with the top three energy-consuming sectors being metal smelting and rolling processing, the petroleum and chemical industry, and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water. (2) The embedded energy patterns in interprovincial trade within the basin are generally efficient, extending from provinces with low energy consumption intensity to those with higher energy consumption intensity. In contrast, the energy patterns in trade between the basin and provinces outside the region showed the opposite trend. The key interprovincial industrial chain paths outside the region mainly serve the final demand of the construction sector and other service industries in the southeastern coastal provinces and municipalities. (3) Within the basin, 87.7% of energy consumption was concentrated in the top five production levels, with key paths leading to the construction industry embedding substantial energy consumption. [Conclusion] The Yellow River Basin can reduce total energy consumption by leveraging industrial chains from low energy intensity areas to high energy intensity areas. Effective measures such as establishing capital and technology cooperation systems among key provinces in the industrial chain can further reduce overall energy consumption.

Keywords

• embedded energy consumption|industrial chain|multi-regional input-output|structural path analyses|yellow river basin