Mi, Z., Zheng, J., Meng, J. et al. Economic development and converging household carbon footprints in China. Nat Sustain 3, 529–537 (2020)

Objective:

• Estimate household carbon footprint for 12 income groups in China

Case:

• China province

Methodology:

• Environmentally extended input-output analysis:
  • $X = (I-A)^{-1}F$
  • $C = K(I-A)^{-1}F$
  • $C_h = K(I-A)^{-1}H$
  • $C = E V F O$
  • $E$: total final consumption + input for thermal power + input for heating - used as chemical materials - loss

Data Source: Open

• Multiregional input output table
• Carbon emission: GTAP
• Price: yearbook
• Import price: National accounts main aggregate database
• Energy: China energy statistical yearbooks
• Income group, eight group of expenditures: provincial yearbook

Findings:

• The proportion of carbon footprint attributed to households is relatively lower in China than in developed countries
• China’s household carbon footprint increased by 27% between 2007 and 2012; the household footprint increased much faster in poorer western regions than in wealthier eastern regions

• Wealthy regions usually have a higher per capita carbon footprint than poor regions
• Urban residents induced 74% of the national household carbon footprint (2.5 times that of rural residents)

• The highest per capita houshold carbon footprint and lowest values are mostly located in relatively poor provinces

• At the national level, carbon emission inequality declined

Coding Reference:

• Matlab: Upon request