Provinces with transitions in industrial structure and energy mix performed best in climate change mitigation in China

Abstract

China has announced its goal of reaching carbon neutrality before 2060, which will be challenging because the country is still on a path towards peak carbon emissions in approximately 2030. Carbon emissions in China did decline from 2013 to 2016, following a continuous increase since the turn of the century. Here we evaluate regional efforts and motivations in promoting carbon emission reduction during this period. Based on a climate change mitigation index, we pinpoint the leading and lagging provinces in emission reduction. The results show that achievements in industrial transition and non-fossil fuel development determined the leading provinces. Thus, the recommended solution for carbon neutrality in China is to promote the transformation of industrial structure and energy mix. In addition, policymakers should be alert to the path of energy outsourcing to reduce carbon emissions. Consumption-based emissions accounting and interregional cooperation are suggested to motivate developed regions to take more responsibility for climate change mitigation.

Assessing coupling interactions in a safe and just operating space for regional sustainability

“…Among these regions, Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shandong, located in the coastal areas (see Fig. S3), have a high degree of decoupling between economic development and resource consumption 57 . These provinces are among the most developed areas in China (e.g., high GDP and household income) with rapid technological progress, adequate human and social capital, and a large influx of high educated populations.…”

“…In addition, eastern China has a relatively flat terrain (majority of terrain is plain), making it more favorable for transportation 59 and its climate conditions (e.g., precipitation) 60 . Therefore, it is recommended that these regions take more responsibility for interregional cooperation by providing access to human and financial resources and new technologies 57 . In general, these provinces represent the forefront of sustainable development in China and can serve as a typical pattern for other regions to achieve more resilient Article https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37073-z and sustainable development, especially for some developed nations or regions.…”

“…Water scarcity is a major constraint affecting the development pattern in these regions. As one of the main sources of electricity production and the energy industry, Inner Mongolia holds a considerable proportion of energy consumption and carbon emissions in China 57 . As energy exporters, these provinces experience much more stress because they share the environmental responsibility of energy importers (e.g., substantial emissions and resource consumptions) 63,64 .…”

China’s energy transitions for carbon neutrality: challenges and opportunities

“…Additionally, carbon emission in China also exhibits significant provincial differences (Table 1 ), in terms of the total amount, sectoral source, and changing trends. According to the results recently published by Mi and Sun [ 19 ], which is shown in Fig. 9 , carbon emissions of provinces and cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Tianjin, have already plateaued, indicating their readiness for achieving carbon peak in the relatively short term.…”

Changes of production and consumption structures in coastal regions lead to mercury emission control in China

“…As China shows significant heterogeneity among regions in terms of economic development, the contribution of changes in production structure to Hg emissions varies across regions. The coastal regions, with their strong economic support and social development (Mi & Sun, 2021), were the first to experience significant changes in their production structure. They led the way in promoting Hg emission reductions, contributing to 68% of Hg emission reductions in China brought about by production structure changes during 2007–2017.…”