Moving Low-Carbon Construction Industry in Jiangsu Province: Evidence from Decomposition and Decoupling Models
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methodology and Data Sources
2.1. Data Sources
2.2. Methodology
2.2.1. Method Used to Measure CO2 Emissions
2.2.2. Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) Approach
2.2.3. Elastic Decoupling Model
3. Results and Analysis
3.1. Analysis of the Energy Consumption, Total Output Value and CO2 Emissions of the Construction Industry
3.1.1. Energy Consumption of the Construction Industry
3.1.2. The Output Value of the Construction Industry and CO2 Emissions
3.2. Factor Decomposition Analysis of the Construction Industry’s CO2 Emissions
3.3. Analysis of the Decoupling Effect Between the CO2 Emissions of the Construction Industry and Economic Growth
4. Conclusions and Policy Suggestions
- (1)
- The energy consumption, total output value and CO2 emissions of the construction industry in Jiangsu Province all increased to some extent during the period covered by our study. To be specific, the energy consumption increased from 2,046,800 tce to 3,970,400 tce during this time, representing an annual rate of increase of 8.64% and a relatively significant increase trend. In addition, the output value increased from 108.478 billion RMB per annum to 228.015 billion RMB per annum, representing a remarkable annual growth rate of 9.73%. Total CO2 emissions increased from 96,839,000 t in 2005, to 538,469,700 t in 2013, representing a significantly high growth rate of 23.92%. In terms of the structure of energy consumption, the energy consumption of the construction industry was primarily concentrated in four aspects, i.e., power, diesel, gasoline and coal.
- (2)
- At certain times during the 2005 to 2013 period, a weak decoupling state existed between the CO2 emissions of the construction industry and the total output value of the construction industry in Jiangsu Province. Specifically, a weak decoupling state was present in the 2005 to 2006 and 2009 to 2010 periods. Conversely, a strong decoupling state existed in the 2012 to 2013 period. Also, an expansive negative decoupling state was apparent in the 2006 to 2009 and 2010 to 2012 periods. Thus, it is clear that no strong decoupling state was truly realized between the CO2 emissions of the construction industry and the total output value of the construction industry in Jiangsu Province during our study period. Also, as seen from the overall developmental trend in the 2005 to 2013 period, there is still a long way to go before a full decoupling state in the construction industry in Jiangsu Province can be realized.
- (3)
- As seen from the contributions of the indirect carbon emission intensity effect, the industry scale effect, the per capita output effect, the labor scale effect, the energy intensity effect and the energy structure effect on the CO2 emissions of the construction industry, the indirect carbon emission intensity effect was the primary factor contributing to the increase in the construction industry’s CO2 emissions. The industry scale effect was the second most significant factor contributing to the increase of the construction industry’s CO2 emissions. In fact, except for the 2007 to 2008 period, the industry scale effect always exerted a positive influence on the construction industry’s CO2 emissions. No significant influence was exerted on the changes in the CO2 emissions of the construction industry by the per capita output effect, the labor scale effect, the energy intensity effect or the energy structure effect. However, given the continuous enhancement of the positive influence of the indirect carbon emission intensity effect and the industry scale effect on the level of CO2 emissions, in the future, for the purpose of reducing the construction industry’s CO2 emissions, efforts must be made to adjust the industry’s energy structure, reduce energy intensity levels and improve the degree of labor efficiency.
- (1)
- Indirect CO2 emissions constitute the primary source of the total CO2 emissions of the Jiangsu Province construction industry. Reducing the industry’s indirect CO2 emission intensity will constitute a key factor in achieving the CO2 emission decoupling of the Jiangsu Province’s construction industry. Thus, efforts must be made to improve construction material production processes and to reduce the level of CO2 emissions generated by the production of construction materials in other industries. Efforts must also be made to energetically promote various “green” novel construction materials, as well as decorative and fitting materials that meet the requirements of sustainable development. A need also exists to increase the intensity of supervision and to prevent merchants from using high-energy consumption and high-emission construction materials for the purposes of reducing production costs in order to maximize economic benefits.
- (2)
- As seen from the cumulative effect perspective, a negative influence was exerted on the CO2 emissions of Jiangsu Province’s construction industry by the energy intensity effect and the per capita output effect. With the continuous enhancement of the positive influence on CO2 emissions of the indirect carbon emission intensity effect and the industry scale effect, reducing energy intensity and improving per capita output could become positive measures to be taken in the effort to achieve the decoupling of the construction industry’s CO2 emissions. Thus, efforts should also be made to energetically promote the R&D and application of energy conservation and emission reduction technologies and to improve the efficiency of energy utilization. Another objective should be to continuously and comprehensively improve the overall quality and working skills of laborers and to fully mobilize those workers’ initiatives. Efforts should also be aimed at strengthening performance management, enhancing production quality management and improving labor efficiency.
- (3)
- Just as with the energy intensity effect and the per capita output effect, adjusting the energy structure could also prove to be a positive measure to be taken in efforts to achieve the decoupling of the construction industry’s CO2 emissions. Thus, we should actively promote the use of clean low-carbon energies, reduce our dependence on high-carbon energies, and establish and perfect our energy conservation and emission reduction standard systems in the construction industry.
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Australian Capital Territory. Weathering the Change: The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007–2025. Available online: http://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/581478/strategy_plan_version4.pdf (accessed on 9 May 2017).
- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Actison Plan on Global Warming Mitigation 2007–2012. Available online: http://baq2008.org/system/files/BMA+Plan.pdf (accessed on 9 May 2017).
- Allwood, J.M.; Cullen, J.M.; Milford, R.L. Options for achieving a 50% cut in industrial carbon emissions by 2050. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2010, 44, 1888–1894. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Peters, G.P.; Weber, C.L.; Guan, D.; Hubacek, K. China’s growing CO2 emissions a race between increasing consumption and efficiency gains. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007, 41, 5939–5944. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Cong, X.; Zhao, M.; Li, L. Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Buildings in Different Regions of China Based on STIRPAT Model. Procedia Eng. 2015, 121, 645–652. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Heggelund, G. China’s climate change policy: Domestic and international developments. Asian Perspect. 2007, 31, 155–191. [Google Scholar]
- McMichael, A.J.; Powles, J.W.; Butler, C.D.; Uauy, R. Food, livestock production, energy, climate change, and health. Lancet 2007, 370, 1253–1263. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q. Cheaper oil challenge and opportunity for climate change. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015, 49, 1997–1998. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wang, Q. China has the capacity to lead in carbon trading. Nature 2013, 493, 273. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wang, Q. China should aim for a total cap on emissions. Nature 2014, 512, 115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wang, Q.; Chen, X. Energy policies for managing China’s carbon emission. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2015, 50, 470–479. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Chen, X.; Jha, A.N.; Rogers, H. Natural gas from shale formation—The evolution, evidences and challenges of shale gas revolution in United States. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2014, 30, 1–28. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, W.; Liu, R.; Zhang, M.; Li, H. Decomposing the decoupling of energy-related CO2 emissions and economic growth in Jiangsu Province. Energy Sustain. Dev. 2013, 17, 62–71. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, M.; Huang, X.J. Effects of industrial restructuring on carbon reduction: An analysis of Jiangsu Province, China. Energy 2012, 44, 515–526. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ying, L.; Xian-jin, H.; Feng, Z. Effects of land use patterns on carbon emission in Jiangsu Province. Trans. Chin. Soc. Agric. Eng. 2008, 24, 102–107. [Google Scholar]
- Zhang, X.; Li, S.; Huang, X.; Li, Y. Effects of Carbon Emissions and Their Spatio-Temporal Patterns in Jiangsu Province from 1996 to 2007. Resour. Sci. 2010, 4, 28. [Google Scholar]
- Feng, B.; Wang, X. Research on carbon decoupling effect and influence factors of provincial construction industry in China. China Popul. Resour. Environ. 2015, 25, 28–34. [Google Scholar]
- Bao, K.; Shen, J.; Wang, G.; Gao, C. Anthropogenic Black Carbon Emission Increase during the Last 150 Years at Coastal Jiangsu, China. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0129680. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Xie, S.; Xu, X. Empirical Research on Relationship between Carbon Emission and Export in Jiangsu Province. Technol. Econ. 2013, 2, 4. [Google Scholar]
- Wang, Y.; Xie, T.; Yang, S. Carbon emission and its decoupling research of transportation in Jiangsu Province. J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 142, 907–914. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Auffhammer, M.; Carson, R.T. Forecasting the path of China’s CO2 emissions using province-level information. J. Environ. Econ. Manag. 2008, 55, 229–247. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xian-jin, T.D.H. Correlation Analysis and Comparison of the Economic Development and Carbon Emissions in the Eastern, Central and Western Part of China. China Popul. Res. Environ. 2008, 3, 009. [Google Scholar]
- Xu, G.-Y.; Song, D.-Y. An Empirical Study of the Environmental Kuznets Curve for China’s Carbon Emissions—Based on Provincial Panel Data. China Ind. Econ. 2010, 5, 37–47. [Google Scholar]
- He, C.; Liu, L.; Duan, Z.; Chen, L.; Wang, S. Research on relationship between carbon emissions and economic growth of construction industry: Based on decoupling theory. Constr. Econ. 2016, 37, 97–99. [Google Scholar]
- Allen, S.K.; Plattner, G.K.; Nauels, A.; Xia, Y.; Stocker, T.F. Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. An Overview of the Working Group 1 Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2014. Available online: http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1/ (accessed on 2 May 2014).
- UNEP. Buildings and Climate Change; United Nations Environment Programme Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative: Paris, France, 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Wang, Q.; Chen, Y. Energy saving and emission reduction revolutionizing China’s environmental protection. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2010, 14, 535–539. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dodman, D. Blaming cities for climate change? An analysis of urban greenhouse gas emissions inventories. Environ. Urban. 2009, 21, 185–201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Li, R. Impact of cheaper oil on economic system and climate change: A SWOT analysis. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2016, 54, 925–931. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Li, R. Drivers for energy consumption: A comparative analysis of China and India. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2016, 62, 954–962. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Acquaye, A.A.; Duffy, A.P. Input-output analysis of Irish construction sector greenhouse gas emissions. Build. Environ. 2010, 45, 784–791. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nässén, J.; Holmberg, J.; Wadeskog, A.; Nyman, M. Direct and indirect energy use and carbon emissions in the production phase of buildings: An input-output analysis. Energy 2007, 32, 1593–1602. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Li, R. Journey to burning half of global coal: Trajectory and drivers of China’s coal use. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2016, 58, 341–346. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Buchanan, A.H.; Honey, B.G. Energy and carbon dioxide implications of building construction. Energy Build. 1994, 20, 205–217. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ali, H.H.; Al Nsairat, S.F. Developing a green building assessment tool for developing countries—Case of Jordan. Build. Environ. 2009, 44, 1053–1064. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Li, R. Sino-Venezuelan oil-for-loan deal—The Chinese strategic gamble? Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2016, 64, 817–822. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rodríguez Serrano, A.; Porras Álvarez, S. Life Cycle Assessment in Building: A Case Study on the Energy and Emissions Impact Related to the Choice of Housing Typologies and Construction Process in Spain. Sustainability 2016, 8, 287. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zabalza, I.; Scarpellini, S.; Aranda, A.; Llera, E.; Jáñez, A. Use of LCA as a tool for building ecodesign. A case study of a low energy building in Spain. Energies 2013, 6, 3901–3921. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Li, R. Research status of shale gas: A review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2017, 74, 715–720. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Li, R.; Jiang, R. Decoupling and Decomposition Analysis of Carbon Emissions from Industry: A Case Study from China. Sustainability 2016, 8, 1059. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q. Effective policies for renewable energy—The example of China’s wind power—Lessons for China’s photovoltaic power. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2010, 14, 702–712. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Han, M.; Chen, G.; Shao, L.; Li, J.; Alsaedi, A.; Ahmad, B.; Guo, S.; Jiang, M.; Ji, X. Embodied energy consumption of building construction engineering: Case study in E-town, Beijing. Energy Build. 2013, 64, 62–72. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, X.; Shen, L.; Zhang, L. Life cycle assessment of the air emissions during building construction process: A case study in Hong Kong. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2013, 17, 160–169. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Q.; Li, R. Natural gas from shale formation: A research profile. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2016, 57, 1–6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- National Bureau of Statistics of China. China Energy Statistical Yearbook; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2005; (In Chinese).
- National Bureau of Statistics of China. China Energy Statistical Yearbook; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2010; (In Chinese).
- National Bureau of Statistics of China. China Energy Statistical Yearbook; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2013; (In Chinese).
- China Statistics Press. China Statistical Yearbook on Construction; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2005; (In Chinese).
- China Statistics Press. China Statistical Yearbook on Construction; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2010; (In Chinese).
- China Statistics Press. China Statistical Yearbook on Construction; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2013; (In Chinese).
- Statistics Bureau of Jiangsu Province. Statistical Yearbook of Jiangsu; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2005; (In Chinese).
- Statistics Bureau of Jiangsu Province. Statistical Yearbook of Jiangsu; China Statistics Press: Beijin, China, 2010; (In Chinese).
- Statistics Bureau of Jiangsu Province. Statistical Yearbook of Jiangsu; China Statistics Press: Beijing, China, 2015; (In Chinese).
- United States Agency for International Development. GHG Protocol Tool For Energy Consumption in China. World Resour. Inst. 2013. Available online: http://www.ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools/all-tools/ (accessed on 9 May 2017).
- Wang, Q.; Li, R.; Liao, H. Toward Decoupling: Growing GDP without Growing Carbon Emissions. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2016, 50, 11435–11436. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wang, Q.; Jiang, X.-T.; Li, R. Comparative decoupling analysis of energy-related carbon emission from electric output of electricity sector in Shandong Province, China. Energy 2017, 127, 78–88. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ortiz, O.; Castells, F.; Sonnemann, G. Sustainability in the construction industry: A review of recent developments based on LCA. Constr. Build. Mater. 2009, 23, 28–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hammond, G.P.; Jones, C.I. Embodied energy and carbon in construction materials. Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Energy 2008, 161, 87–98. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- IPCC. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007; Cambridge University Press: London, UK, 2007. [Google Scholar]
- Ang, B.; Choi, K.-H. Decomposition of aggregate energy and gas emission intensities for industry: A refined Divisia index method. Energy J. 1997, 18, 59–73. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- González, P.F.; Landajo, M.; Presno, M. Tracking European Union CO2 emissions through LMDI (logarithmic-mean Divisia index) decomposition. The activity revaluation approach. Energy 2014, 73, 741–750. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ang, B.W.; Liu, F.; Chung, H.-S. A generalized Fisher index approach to energy decomposition analysis. Energy Econ. 2004, 26, 757–763. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xu, X.; Ang, B.W. Index decomposition analysis applied to CO2 emission studies. Ecol. Econ. 2013, 93, 313–329. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ang, B.W.; Zhang, F.Q.; Choi, K.H. Factorizing changes in energy and environmental indicators through decomposition. Energy 1998, 23, 489–495. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kaya, Y. Impact of Carbon Dioxide Emission Control on GNP Growth: Interpretation of Proposed Scenarios, 1990. Available online: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/sres/emission/index.php?idp=48 (accessed on 9 May 2017).
- Tapio, P. Towards a theory of decoupling: Degrees of decoupling in the EU and the case of road traffic in Finland between 1970 and 2001. Transp. Policy 2005, 12, 137–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Haberstroh, K.; Orth, U.R.; Hoffmann, S.; Brunk, B. Consumer Response to Unethical Corporate Behavior: A Re-Examination and Extension of the Moral Decoupling Model. J. Bus. Eth. 2015, 140, 161–173. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Arrow, K.; Bolin, B.; Costanza, R.; Dasgupta, P. Economic growth, carrying capacity, and the environment. Science 1995, 268, 520. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- De Bruyn, S.M.; van den Bergh, J.C.; Opschoor, J.B. Economic growth and emissions: Reconsidering the empirical basis of environmental Kuznets curves. Ecol. Econ. 1998, 25, 161–175. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Fossil Fuel | Coal | Coke | Crude Oil | Gasoline | Kerosene | Diesel | Fuel Oil | Natural Gas |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
carbon coefficients | 1.981 | 2.860 | 3.020 | 2.925 | 3.033 | 3.096 | 3.170 | 21.622 |
Year | Coal-Fired Electricity | Others (Hydro, Nuclear, Wind) (%) | Standard of Coal Consumption | Emission Factor |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 81.89 | 18.11 | 0.343 | 6.264 |
2006 | 82.69 | 17.31 | 0.342 | 6.307 |
2007 | 82.98 | 17.02 | 0.332 | 6.144 |
2008 | 80.48 | 19.52 | 0.322 | 5.780 |
2009 | 80.3 | 19.7 | 0.32 | 5.731 |
2010 | 79.2 | 20.8 | 0.312 | 5.511 |
2011 | 81.34 | 18.66 | 0.308 | 5.588 |
2012 | 78.05 | 21.95 | 0.305 | 5.309 |
2013 | 78.19 | 21.81 | 0.302 | 5.262 |
Decoupling States | Elastic Decoupling Value e | ΔC | ΔGDP | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Negative decoupling | expansive negative decoupling | >1.2 | >0 | >0 |
weak negative decoupling | 0< <0.8 | <0 | <0 | |
strong negative decoupling | <0 | >0 | <0 | |
Decoupling | recessive decoupling | >1.2 | <0 | <0 |
weak decoupling | 0< <0.8 | >0 | >0 | |
strong decoupling | <0 | <0 | >0 | |
Coupling | expansive coupling | 0.8< <1.2 | >0 | >0 |
recessive coupling | 0.8< <1.2 | <0 | <0 |
Year | Coal | Gasoline | Diesel | Fuel Oil | Natural Gas | Electricity | Total Energy Consumption |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 2.76 | 2.94 | 14.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 27.13 | 204.68 |
2006 | 3.05 | 0.85 | 26.48 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 26.90 | 218.02 |
2007 | 3.11 | 0.88 | 28.53 | 3.39 | 0.00 | 28.95 | 227.77 |
2008 | 3.52 | 1.21 | 40.11 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 33.19 | 232.93 |
2009 | 3.45 | 1.32 | 49.99 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 35.52 | 249.09 |
2010 | 4.14 | 1.62 | 55.66 | 0.27 | 0.00 | 40.87 | 281.22 |
2011 | 0.43 | 3.97 | 58.37 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 48.52 | 328.45 |
2012 | 3.78 | 6.86 | 48.63 | 0.11 | 0.09 | 53.00 | 355.74 |
2013 | 1.96 | 16.18 | 37.80 | 9.55 | 0.23 | 61.86 | 397.04 |
Year | ΔC | ΔGDP | e | Decoupling State |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005–2006 | 805.78 | 116.07 | 0.78 | Weak decoupling; the growth rate of energy consumption and pollutant emission is slower than the rate of economic growth |
2006–2007 | 1776.06 | 60.04 | 3.39 | Expansive negative decoupling; economic growth, accelerated environmental destruction |
2007–2008 | 3196.64 | 104.65 | 3.14 | Expansive negative decoupling; economic growth, accelerated environmental destruction |
2008–2009 | 3822.74 | 259.45 | 1.30 | Expansive negative decoupling; economic growth, accelerated environmental destruction |
2009–2010 | 1412.94 | 173.88 | 0.69 | Weak decoupling; the growth rate of energy consumption and pollutant emission is slower than the rate of economic growth |
2010–2011 | 3465.36 | 124.12 | 2.43 | Expansive negative decoupling; economic growth, accelerated environmental destruction |
2011–2012 | 64,747.89 | 198.07 | 26.02 | Expansive negative decoupling; economic growth, accelerated environmental destruction |
2012–2013 | −35,064.3 | 159.08 | −5.26 | Strong decoupling; the economy has increased, and reduced environmental pressure |
© 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Li, R.; Jiang, R. Moving Low-Carbon Construction Industry in Jiangsu Province: Evidence from Decomposition and Decoupling Models. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1013. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9061013
Li R, Jiang R. Moving Low-Carbon Construction Industry in Jiangsu Province: Evidence from Decomposition and Decoupling Models. Sustainability. 2017; 9(6):1013. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9061013
Chicago/Turabian StyleLi, Rongrong, and Rui Jiang. 2017. "Moving Low-Carbon Construction Industry in Jiangsu Province: Evidence from Decomposition and Decoupling Models" Sustainability 9, no. 6: 1013. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9061013