Identifying common paths of CO2 and air pollutants emissions in China

Abstract China faces the dual challenge of mitigating climate change and preventing air pollution. The coordinated control of both problems has become an issue of widespread concern. This study combined environmentally extended input-output analysis and structural path analysis to analyze the CO2, SO2, NOx, black carbon, and PM2.5 emissions embodied in the production supply chain of China in 2012. The results showed that electricity and heat production, nonmetallic mineral products along with the smelting and pressing of metal were primary sources of environmental emissions from the production perspective, and construction contributed 20–38% relevant emissions from the consumption perspective. Among the 100 largest paths, 22 common critical paths accounted for 16–37% of relevant emissions, meaning that measures focusing on these shared paths will have obvious co-controlling effects. These 22 critical supply chains were mainly driven by fixed capital formation and exports. The dominant sectors included the construction, electricity and heat production, transportation and storage, and construction-materials production (nonmetallic mineral products, smelting and pressing of metal). Therefore, measures from the production-side and the consumption-side should be given equal attention to effectively co-control such emissions. Measures to decrease energy intensity, thus reducing end-of-pipe discharge in these sectors, rather than to remove specific pollutants, represent the most promising production-related measures. Moreover, slowing construction growth by guiding investments and encouraging the use or export of products with lower emissions using environmental information labels are essential consumption-related policies.