Decoupling Effects and Rebound Effects in the Chinese Chemical Sector from 1990-2008
1990年-2008年中国化学工业碳排放脱钩和反弹效应研究

The chemical sector is a large consumer with high material consumption,high energy consumption and high emissions. Energy saving and emission reductions in the Chinese chemical sector will play a key role in the development of a low-carbon economy in China. The purpose of this paper was to investigate potential factors influencing carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption in the Chinese chemical sector from 1990 to 2008. Two decoupling analysis models, the OECD model and Tapio model,were constructed to determine the decoupling relationship between industry growth and carbon dioxide emissions. A complete decomposition analysis model based on the IPAT model was used to analyze the factors that influence carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption. We found general relative decoupling or weak decoupling over the study period for the Chinese chemical sector,except for 1994 and 1996. The main factor affecting growth in carbon dioxide emissions was Chinese chemical sector economic scale. The Chinese chemical sector achieved a considerable decrease in carbon dioxide emissions due to improved energy intensity. Carbon dioxide emission reduction technology remains relatively low and this has limited decoupling of the economy from carbon dioxide emissions. The impact of energy structural change was relatively small during 1990 to 2008. Several strategic suggestions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the Chinese chemical sector are discussed.