Regional difference decomposition and its spatiotemporal dynamic evolution of Chinese agricultural carbon emission: considering carbon sink effect

Abstract

The current study aims to analyze the regional differences and spatiotemporal dynamic evolution of carbon emission intensity (CEI) and carbon emission per capita (CEPC) of planting industry with consideration of carbon sink effect. The results indicate that: (i) The CEI and CEPC of China's planting industry present significant non-equilibrium distribution characteristic during the investigate period, provinces with high CEI are mainly distributed in major agricultural provinces, while high CEPC provinces are mainly located in northeast and individual central provinces with large planting industry. (ii) Inter-regional difference is the principal course of the total differences, the CEI Theil index demonstrates gradient decreasing pattern of "western > central > eastern > northeast," the contribution rate of CEI Theil index shows "northeast > eastern > central > western," the CEPC Theil index shows the spatial pattern of "northeast > central > western > eastern," and the contribution rate of CEPC Theil index presents the spatial pattern of "eastern > central > western > northeast." (iii) The dynamic evolution of CEI and CEPC curve presents polarization or multipolar differential phenomenon accompanies with distinct gradient characteristics, the regional difference of agglomeration level in CEI is gradually narrowing, while the CEPC gradually expanding and the dispersion level is increasing, which implies the "intra-regional convergence and inter-regional divergence." Consequently, differential carbon reduction policies have been put forward according to the study findings.

Keywords: Carbon emission intensity; Carbon emission per capita; Carbon sink; Regional differences; Theil index.