Assessment and Adjustment of Export Embodied Carbon Emissions with Its Domestic Spillover Effects: Case Study of Liaoning Province, China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This manuscript aims to evaluate the contribution of economic activities in China's Liaoning province to carbon emissions in other regions. The authors used an input-output model to describe the economic relationship between Liaoning and other regions and estimated the transfers of carbon emissions embedded in goods and service. By comparing the input-output tables for 2012 and 2017, the authors founds that the export embodies carbon emissions (EECE) from the metal-smelting and petroleum-processing sectors rapidly increased and were transferred to various regions. Based on the calculation result, the authors proposed strategies that Liaoning's industries should take to achieve carbon neutrality. The analytical method used in this manuscript is not new, but the calculation result would benefit China's regional climate policies. The comments from the Reviewer are below.
Comment #1: Please improve your manuscript writing.
(1) This manuscript uses many abbreviations (e.g., EECE, DSE, and ETV), which may confuse readers. The Reviewer recommends that the authors reduce the use of abbreviations in the Abstract. Some abbreviations are used without definition (MRIO in line 17, ETV in line 24).
(2) This manuscript uses KT and MT as the unit of carbon dioxide, but ktCO2 and MtCO2 are more popular.
(3) Misato Sato et al. [42] (line 84) -> Sato et al. [42]
Wang, SH et al. [19] (line 86) -> Wang et al. [19]
The authors need to correct other citations in a similar way.
(4) The mathematical symbols S1, S2, ..., Sn are introduced without definition (Table 1).
(5) Lyon Tiff (line 164) -> Leontief?
Comment #2: This manuscript distinguishes the DSE from EECE, but the Reviewer could not understand the difference between them. Please add the explanation about the DSE to the manuscript.
Comment #3: The mathematical expression of the MRIO model is incorrect. Please check the attachment file and correct equations (1)-(4).
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear Reviewer
Thank you very much for your guidance on our research, as well as your affirmation of our results would benefit China's regional climate policies, which is our greatest encouragement. From your inquiry and guidance on many details, we are affected by your rigorous research attitude and scientific spirit. We have studied your comments carefully and have made correction in our revised manuscript. The details are listed as follows. Under your guidance, the details of our research are more accurate and more rigorous, and the content is more clearly. Your comments have greatly improved our paper. We hope that the revised manuscript can meet with your approval and published in Sustainability. Thank you again for your careful guidance and help on the manuscript.
Sincerely,
Hao Cheng
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The work entitled: "Assessment and adjustment of export embodied carbon emissions with its domestic spillover effects: Case study of Liaoning Province, China" is an article on a current environmental-social topic that examines the carbon footprint of the industrial part of China. The authors here examine based on created time series of production and transfer of emissions - carbon footprint using economic-statistical methods.The work belongs to the category Environmental Policy.
I appreciate the topicality of the topic and the way the analyzes are carried out. I also appreciate the rich literary sources, the determination of research questions and the presentation of basic results in the Abstract section.
However, I have one major and several partial reservations.
- A fundamental reminder is the brevity and out-of-dateness of the compiled and examined time series. The authors used a time series from 2012-2017...
It is necessary to point out that the time series is too short (only 6 years) to have a quality indicative character. For these types of analyses, a time series of at least 10 years is necessary, which better describes possible fluctuations in terms of the economic situation and depression and has better research potential. In addition, the series used is considerably out of date in 2022. It is necessary to extend this time series and adjust the analyses.
- A minor flaw is the lack of references to the images. Even in the case where it is your own work, you must mention your own creations, etc.
- Presented images #6, 8 and 9 on lines 272 onwards are inappropriately small and illegible and need to be enlarged.
- Formulas on lines 159, 161 and 163 lack the description of individual variable symbols after the Where adverb. This is absolutely essential to follow for all first-time presented formulas!
In conclusion, I can state that if the authors manage to solve the problems with the short time series and the new analysis and partial problems in the presentation of the work, it will be possible to publish this research.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer
Thank you very much for your affirmation and guidance on our research (Manuscript ID: sustainability-2039899). Your affirmation of the topicality and the analysis way of our manuscript is our greatest encouragement! We will continue to do in-depth research into the carbon emissions embodied in interregional trade, in the hope that we could get more valuable research production. Meanwhile, thank you for your comments on our manuscript, they are all very valuable and helpful for revising and improving our paper. It is our fortunate and honor to obtain the high-level guidance from you. We have studied your comments carefully and have made correction point by point. The details are listed as follows. We sincerely hope the revised manuscript can gain your acceptance and published in Sustainability. Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Hao Cheng
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors responded to all the Reviewer's comments.
Reviewer 2 Report
The article was improved enough to be published in the Sustainability Journal.
