The Characteristics of Carbon Emissions Embodied in China’s International Economic Circulation Based on Global Value Chains

Economic growth and environmental sustainability represent two critical components of sustainable development. This study analyzed the impacts of China’s international economic circulation (IC) on value added and carbon emissions, using a global value chain accounting framework, seeking to answer how to achieve the dual goals of economic growth and carbon emissions reductions through IC routes: traditional, simple, and complex international economic circulations (TIC, SIC, CIC). The major findings are as follows: (1) The contribution of China’s IC to the domestic economy has decreased since 2008, while its contribution to foreign economies continues to increase. Exports mainly promote domestic economic growth through TIC, while imports mainly promote foreign economic growth through SIC. (2) The carbon emissions embodied in China’s IC through exports are 2.1–4.5 times higher than those in imports. The impact of SIC on the embodied carbon emissions in exports is higher than that in imports, while the impact of CIC in exports is equivalent to that in imports. (3) Although China is a net exporter of carbon emissions, through certain routes, China’s bilateral trade with countries such as Korea, Australia, Malaysia, and Russia are conducive to China’s carbon emissions reductions. These findings provide scientific evidence for the design of trade and carbon emissions mitigation policies.