Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (9): 1703-1714.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.09.14

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Assessment of the spatio-temporal dynamics and emission reduction potential of China's industrial carbon footprint from 2000 to 2021

ZUO Ximei(), ZHAO Wenting()   

  1. Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics, Urumqi 830012, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2025-03-06 Revised:2025-04-16 Online:2025-09-15 Published:2025-09-16
  • Contact: ZHAO Wenting E-mail:510566616@qq.com;2953943893@qq.com

Abstract:

Industry is the key field to achieve the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutralization, but the existing research on the spatio-temporal dynamic evolution of industrial carbon emissions' ecological footprint and its multi-scale impact on the ecosystem is lack of systematic research. Based on the Three dimensional Ecological Footprint Model, this study calculates the industrial carbon footprint of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2021, reveals its temporal and spatial dynamic evolution characteristics, and evaluates the regional emission reduction potential. Key findings include: (1) China's industrial carbon footprint exhibits significant spatiotemporal variations, reflecting regional disparities in industrial structure and energy consumption patterns. Central and western regions face mounting emission pressures due to absorbing relocated energy-intensive industries, while eastern regions show improvements. (2) Carbon sink stocks and flows demonstrate regional complementarity but exhibit overall imbalance, with certain areas confronting overloading risks to carbon sequestration resources. (3) Both size and depth of industrial carbon footprints display increasing spatial autocorrelation over time, with agglomeration effects intensifying. Their spatial redistribution trends (inland shift, clustered distribution, and peripheral relocation) reveal gradient transition dynamics of industrial carbon emissions. (4) Carbon reduction characteristics and potentials vary substantially across regions, eastern regions possess greater mitigation potential, whereas central/western regions require prioritized focus on sustainable utilization of carbon sink resources. This study reveals the dynamic relationship between industrial carbon emissions and ecosystem carrying capacity from the perspective of ecology, and proposes differentiated emission reduction strategies based on regional differences, which provides a scientific basis for the construction of low-carbon industrial development and ecological protection collaborative governance model.

Key words: industrial carbon emissions, carbon footprint, emission reduction potential, Three Dimensional Ecological Footprint Model