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Acta Geographica Sinica >

2025 , Vol. 80 >Issue 5: 1244 - 1260

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11821/dlxb202505006

Vegetation and Carbon Cycling

Spatial pattern evolution and driving forces of China's carbon transfer

  • ZHAO Danyang , 1, 2 ,
  • TONG Lianjun 3 ,
  • MIAO Changhong , 1, 2
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  • 1. Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
  • 2. Laboratory of Climate Change Mitigation and Carbon Neutrality, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
  • 3. North east Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China

Received date: 2024-08-19

  Revised date: 2025-04-16

  Online published: 2025-05-23

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China(42171186)

Henan Philosophy and Social Sciences Project(2023CJJ128)

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Abstract

Analyzing the evolution of spatial patterns and driving forces of carbon transfer is essential for the equitable allocation of carbon emission responsibilities, accurate identification of regional carbon emission sources, and improvement in carbon reduction efficiency. Existing research on carbon transfer in China has primarily focused on inter-country and inter-provincial connections at single points in time, lacking an analysis of the long-term dynamic evolution and driving factors behind both domestic and international carbon transfers at the provincial scale. This study addresses this research gap. Using a multi-scale input-output model, this study quantified the carbon transfers associated with domestic and international trade for 31 Chinese provinces (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) from 1997 to 2017. It further analyzed the evolution characteristics of spatial patterns and their driving forces. The findings indicate: (1) Carbon transfers in both domestic and international trade increased significantly across all provinces. Spatial differentiation intensified along a north-south axis for domestic trade and an east-central-west axis for international trade. (2) Growth in net carbon transfers in domestic trade was primarily driven by carbon-intensive industries, whereas growth in international trade transfers was primarily driven by manufacturing industries. (3) The intensification of spatial differentiation in domestic carbon transfers was mainly driven by the expansion of inter-regional trade in carbon-intensive industries. Similarly, intensified spatial differentiation in international carbon transfers was mainly driven by increased exports of manufactured products. Conversely, reductions in carbon emission intensity and adjustments in input-output structures had mitigating effects on these trends. This study provides scientific support for optimizing provincial carbon reduction strategies and developing coordinated inter-provincial carbon reduction policies in China.

Key words： carbon transfer; spatial pattern evolution; driving forces; multi-scale input-output model; provinces

Cite this article

ZHAO Danyang , TONG Lianjun , MIAO Changhong . Spatial pattern evolution and driving forces of China's carbon transfer[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2025 , 80(5) : 1244 -1260 . DOI: 10.11821/dlxb202505006

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