Driving factors of energy-relevant CO2 emissions in China’s fixed asset investment: A decomposition analysis
International Journal of Energy Sector Management
ISSN: 1750-6220
Article publication date: 17 September 2018
Issue publication date: 23 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use an index decomposition analysis to investigate the driving forces of China’s CO2 emissions related to fixed asset investments from 2003 to 2015.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses an index decomposition analysis to investigate the driving forces of China’s CO2 emissions related to fixed asset investments from 2003 to 2015. To make policy recommendations, this paper identifies three effects. An approach to calculating energy-relevant CO2 emissions is also presented.
Findings
The results suggest that the amount of CO2 emissions related to fixed asset investments increased during the entire period. The social and economic effect played a major role in promoting carbon emissions, followed by the fixed asset effect. Therefore, the activity factor was the dominant positive factor, followed by the construction factor. The negative element was the energy effect, in which the energy intensity factor played an important role in reducing emissions, followed by the structural factor. Moreover, the carbon intensity factor might be a potential inhibitory force in reducing carbon emissions.
Research/limitations/implications
A steady financial policy, relaxed family planning, sustainable urbanization, strategy of innovation-driven development, reform of scientific and technological structures, development of science and technology and exploration of new energy sources are proposed to mitigate carbon emissions from fixed asset investments. The conclusion also provides a reference for developing countries in similar situations.
Originality/value
This paper uses an index decomposition analysis to investigate the driving forces of China’s CO2 emissions related to fixed asset investments from 2003 to 2015. To make policy recommendations, this paper identifies three effects. An approach to calculating energy-relevant CO2 emissions is also presented.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 71403207) and the Seed Foundation of Innovation and Creation for Graduate Students in Northwestern Polytechnical University (No. ZZ2018207).
The authors also would like to thank the anonymous referees and the Journal Manager for their helpful suggestions and corrections on this paper.
Citation
Liu, H. and Shang, J. (2018), "Driving factors of energy-relevant CO2 emissions in China’s fixed asset investment: A decomposition analysis", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 601-616. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-10-2017-0015
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited