Influencing mechanism of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation strategies of livestock sector in developed regions of eastern China: a case study of Jiangsu province

Abstract

The livestock sector not only provides people with meat, eggs, milk, and other nutrients but also causes a large number of non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions. It is urgent to explore the influence mechanism of non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emission from the livestock sector and formulate effective mitigation strategies. Taking Jiangsu province as an example, we analyzed the influencing factors of non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector based on sources and modified the STIRPAT (stochastic impact by regression on population, affluence, and technology) model, proposed the directions, designed the generally circular path, and determined the focus of non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions reduction from the livestock sector. The results demonstrated: (1) the top priority of emission reduction of livestock sector in Jiangsu province was the reasonable treatment of manure produced by livestock (non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions from manure had accounted for more than 60% of the total emissions from the livestock sector since 2007.), and the core was pig manure management (the CH₄ and N₂O emissions from pig manure accounted for more than 90 and 50% of the total CH₄ and N₂O emissions from all livestock manure, respectively). (2) The decrease of the agricultural population, the increase of livestock output value per capita of the agricultural population, and the improvement of livestock carbon productivity all reduced non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions of the livestock sector. For every 1% decrease in agricultural population, for every 1% increase in livestock carbon productivity and livestock output value per capita of the agricultural population, non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector would be reduced by 0.0859%, 0.1748%, and 0.0400%, respectively. (3) To construct and improve the low carbon industrial chain of the livestock sector, to promote low carbon technology research and development and introduction are two focuses for non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emission reduction in the livestock sector. The research can provide a basis for non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions reduction from the livestock sector in China, especially in the developed eastern regions.

Keywords: Focuses of emissions reduction; Influence factors; Jiangsu; Livestock sector; Non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions.