Decomposition and Decoupling of Regional Carbon Emissions

Abstract

This paper applies the logarithmic mean divisia index to explore the decomposition and decoupling of sectoral carbon emissions across four provinces in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). The results show that (1) the YRD experienced a significant upward trend in sectoral carbon emissions, among which Anhui and Jiangsu provinces experienced the largest increase in carbon emissions. (2) Anhui and Jiangsu showed expansive coupling or weak decoupling in the “10th Five-Year Plan (FYP)”, and Shanghai and Zhejiang indicated weak decoupling and strong decoupling in the “11th FYP”, “12th FYP”, and “13th FYP”. These observations show that the YRD has been transforming its economic growth patterns and increasingly concentrating on the green economy. (3) Shanghai was the most progressive in decoupling. An inspection of decoupling indicators reveals that declining energy intensity contributed most to decoupling, whereas the population scale was less important. In addition, the industry structure and energy structure varied among the provinces.

Decoupling Economic Growth from Carbon Emissions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China: From the Coordinated Regional Development Perspective

“…As illustrated in Figure 2 (CDP), all CDP exhibited decoupling of economic growth from carbon emissions, with a few exceptions. Shanghai city has the best decoupling effect, which is consistent with the findings of another study [75]. As shown in Table 4, Shanghai city exhibits a decoupling stability indicator of 2.57.…”

“…The results of this study not only align with existing research, such as Huang et al [75]'s examination of carbon emission growth factors in the Yangtze River Delta region (Shanghai city, Jiangsu province, and Zhejiang province) using the LMDI method, but also introduce novel perspectives. In concordance with prior findings, both studies emphasize economic growth as a primary driver of carbon emissions, highlighting energy intensity as a key deceleration factor.…”