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Uncovering impact factors of carbon emissions from transportation sector: evidence from China’s Yangtze River Delta Area

Author

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  • Huaping Sun

    (Jiangsu University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Lingxiang Hu

    (Jiangsu University)

  • Yong Geng

    (Jiangsu University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security)

  • Guangchuan Yang

    (University of Nevada)

Abstract

Transportation sector contributes a significant proportion to the overall carbon emission. This paper aims at measuring the impact factors of the transportation sector’s carbon emission in China’s Yangtze River Delta Area (YRDA) so that mitigation strategies on promoting low-carbon transportation can be raised. The partial least squares method and an extended STIRPAT (stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology) model were employed for quantifying the contributions of different impact factors that affect transportation carbon emission within the YRDA region for the period of 1995–2014. Results show that population size, GDP, civilian vehicle inventory, energy intensity, passenger transportation, freight turnover, and transport sector output are key factors inducing transportation carbon emission, while energy structure and transportation sector employees mitigate the overall transportation carbon emission. Such results provide valuable policy implications for preparing appropriate mitigation strategies, such as the optimization of energy structure, the development of energy efficient technologies, the improvement of public awareness, and the implementation of intelligent transportation management.

Suggested Citation

  • Huaping Sun & Lingxiang Hu & Yong Geng & Guangchuan Yang, 2020. "Uncovering impact factors of carbon emissions from transportation sector: evidence from China’s Yangtze River Delta Area," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 1423-1437, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:25:y:2020:i:7:d:10.1007_s11027-020-09934-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-020-09934-1
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    2. Feng, Xuesong & Tao, Zhibin & Shi, Ruolin, 2024. "The Spatiotemporal exploration of intercity transport energy efficiency in the mainland of China on the basis of improved stochastic frontier modelling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Yuhao Yang & Ruixi Dong & Xiaoyan Ren & Mengze Fu, 2024. "Exploring Sustainable Planning Strategies for Carbon Emission Reduction in Beijing’s Transportation Sector: A Multi-Scenario Carbon Peak Analysis Using the Extended STIRPAT Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Xia, Yin-Shuang & Sun, Lu-Xuan & Feng, Chao, 2022. "What causes spatial inequalities of low-carbon development in China's transport sector? A newly proposed meta-frontier DEA-based decomposition approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    5. Yu, Ying & Dai, Yuqi & Xu, Linyu & Zheng, Hanzhong & Wu, Wenhao & Chen, Lei, 2023. "A multi-level characteristic analysis of urban agglomeration energy-related carbon emission: A case study of the Pearl River Delta," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PB).

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