No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

A series of studies has recently used emissions embodied in net imports (EENI) to argue for the consumption-based accounting (CBA) approach. These publications have been generating much attention from the media and academia for 'providing an opportunity to inform effective climate policy'. However, policymakers must be cautious when considering if CBA can be used to replace or just to supplement current practice of production-based accounting (PBA). Terms such as 'carbon leakage', 'emissions transfers', and 'CO 2 outsourcing' have been uncritically overused as there is little evidence that EENI is the result of climate policy. Furthermore, CBA overlooks 'insourcing' of polluting industries by producing regions when blaming consumers for emissions. To avoid misinformation, EENI should be called just that. CBA's practicality is limited as it involves more data-intensive calculations and higher transaction costs than PBA. The success of CBA will rely on consumers to put pressure on producers. Eventually, it is still producers that need to reduce emissions. PBA is more practical by directly placing pressure on producers along with environmental laws and regulations. CBA will be counter-productive to global emissions control if producers increase emissions due to reduced responsibility over the emissions incurred by the production of their exports. However, CBA could be used to persuade consumers to choose low-emissions products, support producers' sustainability efforts, and reduce nonbasic consumption.

This paper explores a sustainability divide in urban environmental protection in China with its 72 Model Cities, 113 key cities, and 43 most polluted cities. It investigates factors that help understand such a divide, the applicability of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), and policies for sustainable urban development. Geographic information systems (GIS) and statistical analyses used data derived from documents, statistical records, publications, on-site inspections and fi eld research. The key cities were divided into seven groups based on eight environmental indicators. The research found a sustainability gap between eastern and western cities, or between Model Cities and other key cities. Oddly, environmental spending was not found to be an explanation. The paper argues that sustainability studies needs to move beyond the EKC to consider the role of nature. Chinese policy makers should not use the Model Cities to support the 'grow fi rst and clean up later' approach. Instead they should promote sustainability in all parts of China.