Spatio-temporal changes and root-cause identification for embodied carbon emissions based on production and consumption in China's Yangtze River Economic Belt.

The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB) is at the centre of China's economy and development. Its regional carbon emissions account for about 36.9% of the country's total carbon emissions, and thus, there is an urgent need to sustain the development of a low-carbon economy. However, the complex patterns of embodied carbon flows arising from multi-scale trade in such a megaregion are often ignored in carbon environmental governance. This study incorporates a megaregion into an environmentally extended multi-regional input-output (EEMRIO) framework and identifies the drivers of production and consumption-based carbon emissions using four measures through structural decomposition analysis (SDA). The results show that (1) the YEB strengthens inter-provincial trade links while reducing international trade links; (2) there is obvious carbon transfer in multi-scale trade in the YEB, with a corresponding transfer of responsibility for carbon reduction occurring; and (3) consumption volume and carbon intensity are the main drivers and inhibitors of the increasing carbon emissions, respectively, and the optimisation of production structure and consumption structure are effective ways to control production-based carbon emissions (PBEs) and consumption-based carbon emissions (CBEs), respectively. This study extends the research scale of "national-provincial-city" to a megaregion. Studies based on multiple trade scales would provide additional insights to understand the carbon reduction responsibilities of megaregions and help achieve coordinated regional carbon reductions.

Cross-regional ecological compensation under the composite index of water quality and quantity: A case study of the Yellow River Basin.

The calculation of ecological compensation (EC) constitutes the core element of the EC mechanism, which is related to the practicability of the mechanism. Based on the comprehensive index of water quality and quantity, this study establishes a measurement method for EC across administrative divisions. First, the improved Nemerow pollution index (NPI) is adopted to assess the water quality of specific sections, while the water rights and GDP indicators are employed to characterize the water quantity of each section. Secondly, given the spatial relationship of each region within the basin, two compensation allocation schemes are established referring to the water intake and grey water footprint indicators. Finally, the EC amounts of each region in the Yellow River Basin from 2016 to 2021 are calculated using the proposed method. The results show that: (1) the improved NPI is significantly higher in the upstream than in the downstream, implying better water quality in the upstream region; (2) From 2016 to 2021, both Gansu and Ningxia exhibit negative EC coefficients, suggesting superior water quality in the upper section of these regions, while Henan Province demonstrates the opposite trend; (3) During the same period, Qinghai, Gansu, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Shandong experience an EC deficit, while Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Henan, and Yellow River Conservancy Commission exhibit an EC surplus. Using water quality and quantity indicators, this study includes the implementation of basin unification and regional environmental comprehensive management into the scope of responsibility of the basin government, which can effectively solve the drawbacks of unclear responsibilities of stakeholders and ineffective implementation of compensation in the basin EC.

Compensation mechanisms for fishermen quit fishing: A case of Jiangsu province, China.

The 'Ten-year Ban on Fishing' policy was designed by the Chinese government to protect the biodiversity of the Yangtze River basin. Fishermen are the ultimate implementers of the fishing ban policy. Therefore, a scientific compensation mechanism for fishers to stop fishing is the basis for ensuring the continuous implementation of the policy. First, we conducted a survey with 309 fishermen in eight cities along the Yangtze River in Jiangsu province. We also analyzed living conditions of fishermen before and after quitting fishing based on descriptive statistical analysis. Based on the theory of sustainable livelihood, a binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between fishermen's willingness to quit fishing and five types of livelihood capital (natural, material, human, financial, and social capital). The results showed that fishermen face severe livelihood sustainability issues after ceasing to fish and that their willingness to quit is closely related to the five types of livelihood capital. Based on this, and according to different age groups, this study constructed a compensation mechanism for retired fishermen from two aspects: monetary and social security compensation. The research results can provide a theoretical framework for other provinces in the Yangtze River basin to formulate a compensation system for fishermen.

Can the water resources tax policy effectively stimulate the water saving behavior of social water users? A DSGE model embedded in water resources tax.

Whether the implementation of the water resources tax policy can stimulate the water-saving behavior of social water users is one of the important criteria for evaluating the implementation effect of the tax reform policy. Taking Hebei Province, the first tax reform pilot in China, as an example. A dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model (DSGE) with embedded water resources tax is constructed to simulate the persistent impact of water resources tax on water-saving objectives. The research shows that: (1) Water resources tax can effectively achieve the goal of water-saving and improve the utilization efficiency of water resources. (2) Levying water resources tax helps to improve the water-saving awareness of enterprises and residents. It can also encourage enterprises to optimize production structures. (3) Rational and efficient use of special water resources protection funds is the basis for ensuring the effective implementation of water resources tax. It can also improve the recycling capacity of water resources. The results show that the government should speed up formulating a reasonable water resources tax rate and accelerate the construction of water resources tax protection measures. To ensure the relatively steady state of water resources utilization and protection, and achieve the dual goals of sustainable economic development and sustainable use of water resources. The research results of this paper reveal the internal logic of the comprehensive impact of water resources tax on the economy and society and provide an important basis for the national promotion of tax reform policy.

Ecological network analysis of industrial wastes metabolism based on input-output model for Jiangsu, China.

The enormous discharge of industrial waste seriously hinders the sustainable development of cities. However, most studies only involve a single or limited category of industrial pollutants, ignoring the environmental pressure caused by multiple resources and environmental factors. This paper combines input-output analysis and ecological network analysis to construct an industrial waste metabolic input-output (IWMIO) model, which explores the industrial waste discharge and discharge relationships among different sectors in Jiangsu Province from the three aspects of industrial wastewater, industrial waste gas, and industrial solid waste. The results show that the indirect discharge of industrial waste is greater than the direct discharge in the industrial waste metabolism system. TI (Tertiary industry), CI (Chemical industry), SPM (Smelting and pressing of metals), and PSEH (Production and supply of electricity and heat) dominate the industrial waste metabolism system. In addition, MWC (Mining and washing of coal), MNMP (Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products), SPM (Smelting and pressing of metals) have more mutualism and competition relationships with other sectors, so the control of industrial waste discharge in these sectors contributes to achieving emission reduction targets. Based on the research results, this paper proposes corresponding policy recommendations such as considering both direct and indirect emissions of sectors when formulating waste reduction policies and developing pertinent industrial waste reduction programs based on the characteristics of the identified sectors. The results of this paper are helpful to identify the dependence and influence relationships of various sectors in the industrial waste metabolism system, promote industrial waste discharge control, and provide theoretical support for the adjustment of industrial structure and the formulation of related policies in Jiangsu Province.

Research on the Spatial and Temporal Differences of China's Provincial Carbon Emissions and Ecological Compensation Based on Land Carbon Budget Accounting.

The establishment of a complete carbon ecological compensation mechanism is of great significance for China to achieve "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" as soon as possible. From the perspective of land carbon budget accounting, this paper measures the carbon emissions and the value of carbon ecological compensation in 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2019, by constructing a carbon ecological compensation model, and analyzes it from both time and space perspectives. The study found that: (1) during the period 2010-2019, China's carbon absorption remained basically stable, and woodland and grassland were the main carriers of China's land carbon absorption. The total carbon sequestration of woodland and grassland showed a pattern of being high in the west and low in the east, and the total carbon sequestration of cultivated land showed a pattern of being high in the east and low in the west. (2) Construction land is the main source of carbon emissions in China. Cultivated land carbon emissions mainly come from major agricultural provinces such as Henan and Heilongjiang, while construction land carbon emissions are mainly concentrated in energy-consuming provinces such as Shandong and Shanxi. (3) After revising the carbon compensation benchmark value, it is found that provinces such as Guangdong and Jiangsu should receive carbon ecological compensation, while provinces dominated by heavy industries such as Shanxi and Shandong need to pay corresponding carbon compensation fees. Finally, this article puts forward corresponding policy recommendations, such as that China should give full play to the role of the government and the market, accelerate the optimization and improvement of the ecological resource asset property rights system, and optimize the development and utilization of land.