The heterogenicity features revealed based on the regional and sectoral carbon metabolic system: An empirical analysis of heavy-polluted cases in China

The Chinese government has made a positive response and policies to address global climate change, regions and sectors has become more important in reducing carbon emission. This study used the indicator of carbon emission intensity to evaluate the reduction effect of carbon emission of heavy-polluted regions and sectors, and also their features in China. The results indicated firstly, the aggregated carbon emission intensity of regions was primarily influenced by their embodied added value. From 2012 to 2015, the regions’ embodied added value increased more than 2 times. Secondly, the embodied carbon emission of the manufacture of chemical products sectors in regions were dominated by emission implied in metabolic path length greater than five, which took the proportion of more than 30% of emission. This showed that emission reduction policies for heavy-polluted sectors should focus on controlling the emission implied in trading with downstream sectors, and also demonstrated that the heavy-polluted sectors drove the reduction of carbon emission of other sectors. Thirdly, the carbon emission of heavy-polluted sectors in coastal regions fell due to implementing the carbon emission trading scheme policy, while heavy-polluted sectors in the inland regions radiated to their upstream and downstream sectors. This study analyzes regional and sectoral carbon emission reduction effect and provides theoretical and practical bases for urban development.