Decomposition Of Energy Related CO₂Emissions In China:a Production-theoretical Approach

Nowadays, global warming has become a worldwide environmental problem, and it has confirmed by related studies that too much carbon dioxide is the leading cause of global warming. By constructing the factor analysis model, we can clarify the reasons of the change of the carbon emissions and their contributions, to deeply understanding the internal cause of the change of the carbon emissions, so as to make the activate measures for energy conservation and emissions reduction.Firstly this article defines production possibility set according to the production theory, then use the shepherd distance functions,together with the data envelopment analysis method, to measure the relative efficiency of energy input and expected output respectively. Through the definition of Malmquist index,our model provides more detailed information about the influence of both production technical efficiency and technological change on CO2emissions. Finally eight factors are specifically identified, which are CO2emission factors effect, the energy mix effect, the potential energy intensity effect, the potential economic activity, the effect of energy usage efficiency, the effect of energy saving technical change, the effect of output production efficiency,and the effect of output technical changes. The prominent feature of this model is that it can measure the effect of output production efficiency,and the effect of output technical changes on CO2emission.Apply the model to analyze the energy related CO2emissions change in29provinces of China from2001to2011.The study reveals mixed results but generally shows that, the most dominant factor to raise the CO2emissions is economic activity,while the most significant factor to reduce CO2emissions is potential energy intensity effect. Under the results of empirical analysis, combining with the actual situation of China, Some reasonable and feasible advices on energy conservation and emissions reduction policy are put forward.The proposed model can simultaneously involve factors about economic development, energy structure, energy usage technology and production technology on CO2emissions change, which makes the results more comprehensive than previous studies. Empirical studies of29provinces or cities in China, make us look into the changes of CO2emission in China more meticulous and thorough, and fill the gap of PDA method not applied to the provincial data level.