Energy Reports (Nov 2021)
Distribution and evolutionary in household energy-related CO2 emissions (HCEs) based on Chinese north–south demarcation
Abstract
Household energy-related CO2 emissions (HCEs) are significant sources of increased CO2 emissions in China. Understanding the distribution and evolution of HCEs in different geographical areas is favorable for low-carbon development and climate change mitigation. However, there has been little research on this topic, especially in geographical demarcation areas. Here, using prefecture-level cities traversed by the Qinling mountains–Huaihe river line (Qinling–Huaihe line) as the study areas, we quantified the HCEs based on statistical and nighttime light data from 2000 to 2017. We revealed the evolutionary trends and structural changes of HCEs and looked into how HCEs are impacted by social and natural factors. The results show that northern regions tend to have higher HCEs than southern regions at similar longitudes, and this trend remains stable for a long period of time due to the long-term and stable living habits and consumption behaviors with regional characteristics. Cities with the highest HCEs are located in the central region, followed by the eastern region, and the lowest in the western. The longitude evolution of HCEs is centered on medium-emission cities, which moved eastward from 111–117°E and turned major aggregation of medium-high emissions up to 2015 by the economic driving force. The distribution of fixed crosses is inconsistent with the HCEs and energy structure, demonstrating the counteracting effects of energy structure optimization on HCEs are far less than the promoting effects of energy demand. Although HCEs increased as GDP and population increased, these effects were partially offset when adjusting for urban layout and human activity density. This paper provides a reference for reducing CO2 emissions in the geographical demarcation areas and puts forward policy suggestions.
