Exploring a low-carbon transition quality assessment framework for Chinese energy-intensive industries: from carbon reduction perspective

With a view to effectively control the rise in global temperatures and respond to the climate crisis, China has proposed a carbon reduction target. Among other mitigation measures, one approach for this goal is to accelerate the low-carbon transition of China’s energy-intensive industries (EIIs). Here, we propose a comprehensive framework to assess the quality of the low-carbon transition of China’s EIIs. The framework utilizes the improved Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method to construct a rational indicator system to guide the work. The Hasse diagram technique was chosen to rank the quality of the low-carbon transition of EIIs in China, and the results are presented in hierarchical levels. The DEMATEL method, which considers the negative influence between factors and the iterative state, can more accurately screen the critical indicators affecting changes in complex systems. In addition, the constructed indicator system is also more reasonable. The results of the assessment show that China has made certain achievements in the low-carbon transition of EIIs. Among them, the production and supply of the electricity, steam, and hot water industries have demonstrated the highest quality of low-carbon transitions. In contrast, the petroleum processing and coking industry and the nonferrous metal smelting and pressing industry have shown room for improvement. Therefore, their social acceptance and low-carbon technologies should be strengthened. The difficulties constraining the low-carbon transition of China’s EIIs should be explored in terms of the critical factors identified. Furthermore, the government should have effective and sustainable public policies and promote technological innovations for decarbonization toward China’s targets of carbon neutrality and emissions peaking.