The dynamic features of final demand carbon footprint in China from 1997-2010-an input-output analysis

In order to examine the development of carbon emissions in China from the source, with an input-output model, this study accounts the carbon footprint for different components of China's final demand during the period 1997-2010. The results show that, carbon footprints of different final demand components all show increasing trends, except that export carbon footprints declined in 2010 compared to 2007. Capital formation ranks higher than both final consumption and exports, with regards to the total amount and average annual growth rate of emissions driven in recent years, and to emissions driven per unit value in the whole period analyzed. Urban household consumption contribute the most to the amount and growth of total emissions driven by final consumption, as well as emissions driven per unit expenditure. Construction is the main sector driving capital formation carbon footprints. The five major sectors that driving export carbon footprints include textiles, electronic equipment manufacturing, metal smelting and rolling processing, chemical, and general/special equipment manufacturing.