Decomposition of the decoupling between electricity CO2 emissions and economic growth: A production and consumption perspective

Decoupling of electricity CO2 emissions (ECE) is pivotal in achieving China's “double carbon” goal. However, empirical studies primarily focus on the decoupling of ECE from the production side of a specific country or region, thereby ignoring the spatial separation of electricity production and consumption due to the highly connected electricity network. Decoupling of ECE from the consumption side is also crucial. In this study, the IPCC inventory method and quasi-input-output (QIO) model were comprehensively used to establish an electricity CO2 emission accounting framework covering both the production and consumption sides. The Tapio and Logarithmic Mean Division Index (LMDI) models were used to explore the decoupling relationship between ECE and economic growth and the driving factors. Results ultimately show the following:(1) During 2007 to 2020, the decoupling situation experienced a process from weak decoupling to strong decoupling and finally to expansive negative decoupling; (2) The economically developed eastern regions and the western regions that are affluent in renewable energy resources showed different decoupling states; (3) Renewable energy in the southwest and nuclear electricity generation in the east promotes production-side decoupling, while fossil energy electricity generation in the north inhibited production-side decoupling. Industrial restructuring in the northeastern region and the western electricity-generating provinces has contributed to the decoupling at the consumption side. The research is helpful for China's national and provincial electricity sectors to set up a comprehensive emission reduction policy based on shared responsibility allocation from the production and consumption sides.