Weber, C.L., Peters, G.P., Guan, D. et al. (1 more author) (2008) The contribution of Chinese exports to climate change. Energy Policy, 36 (9). pp. 3572-3577. ISSN 0301-4215
Abstract
Within 5 years, China's CO2 emissions have nearly doubled, and China may already be the world's largest emitter of CO2. Evidence suggests that exports could be a main cause for the rise in Chinese CO2 emissions; however, no systematic study has analyzed this issue, especially over time. We find that in 2005, around one-third of Chinese emissions (1700 Mt CO2) were due to production of exports, and this proportion has risen from 12% (230 Mt) in 1987 and only 21% (760 Mt) as recently as 2002. It is likely that consumption in the developed world is driving this trend. A majority of these emissions have largely escaped the scrutiny of arguments over “carbon leakage” due to the current, narrow definition of leakage. Climate policies which would make the developed world responsible for China's export emissions have both benefits and costs, and must be carefully designed to achieve political consensus and equity. Whoever is responsible for these emissions, China's rapidly expanding infrastructure and inefficient coal-powered electricity system need urgent attention.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2008 Elsevier B.V. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Energy Policy. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Sherpa Assistant |
Date Deposited: | 24 Oct 2008 12:57 |
Last Modified: | 16 Sep 2016 13:38 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2008.06.009 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier B.V. |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.enpol.2008.06.009 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:4777 |