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Exploring the Carbon Emission Transfers Pathway to Address the Issue of Sustainable Development: A Multi‐Regional Input–Output Perspective

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  • Xiaoqian Liu
  • Javier Cifuentes‐Faura
  • Wenming Shi
  • Chunhui Tian

Abstract

Exploring the path of carbon emission transfers (CETs) in large emitting countries is pivotal to address the issue of sustainable development. Based on several stylized facts about inter‐regional CETs in China, this study uses a multi‐regional input–output model to examine the inter‐regional net CET relationships due to commodity flows by calculating their scale and direction and decomposing them at the industry level. The main findings are as follows. First, using evidence from China, we observe a regional disparity of carbon emissions and confirm that the embodied CETs caused by commodity flows have increased significantly. Second, the scale of CETs shows an expansionary trend with intermediate products causing more CETs than final products, while their direction presents a shift to regions with geographical adjacencies and complementary industrial structures. Third, the CET path is relatively fixed for the industrial sectors that provide products externally and bear carbon emissions, which, however, demonstrates a tendency to fragment for the industrial sectors that consume external products and transfer carbon emissions. These results provide profound evidence and implications for developing a low‐carbon economy and implementing coordinated emission reduction measures among regions in China, which can further serve as a worldwide reference to promote sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoqian Liu & Javier Cifuentes‐Faura & Wenming Shi & Chunhui Tian, 2025. "Exploring the Carbon Emission Transfers Pathway to Address the Issue of Sustainable Development: A Multi‐Regional Input–Output Perspective," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(4), pages 5676-5703, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:4:p:5676-5703
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.3406
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