Tracking CO2 Emission Intensity for Economic Activity and Residential Life in China's Provincial Regions: Decomposition Analysis Using LMDI

The carbon emission intensity combined with economic development and population growth can provide better guidance for different provinces to implement more appropriate carbon neutrality planning expediently. Herein, the carbon emission intensity of economic activity and residential life in China's provinces were analyzed firstly. Q-cluster analysis was used by dividing 30 provinces into four types of clusters: problem, reform, exploration and pioneering provinces, and each cluster was exemplified by Inner Mongolia, Tianjin, Sichuan and Beijing, respectively. Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method was performed to discuss the driving forces of CO2 emission intensity for economic activities and residential life for four provinces during 2000–2019, respectively. The results suggest that the carbon emission intensity of economic activities gradually decreases overall, while the carbon emission intensity of residential life gradually increases. Energy intensity and energy mix are the main inhibited factors of increasing carbon emission intensity of economic activities and residential life, respectively. In different stages of economic development and urbanization, the influence of economic structure effect and urbanization effect on carbon emission intensity present a trend of positive increase at first and then gradually decrease until the negative effect increases. Finally, based on the discussion results, corresponding carbon reduction policy recommendations are put forward for different province types in China.