The allocation of carbon emission intensity reduction target by 2020 among provinces in China

According to the combined principles of fairness and efficiency, a comprehensive allocating indicator system is developed, and the TOPSIS approach is applied to allocate China's 40-45 % carbon emission intensity (carbon emission per unit of GDP) reduction target by 2020. The results indicate that, first of all, the unequally weighted indicator system outperforms the equally weighted one according to regional developing situation in China; and the most important indicator affecting the allowance allocation is carbon reduction responsibility, followed by future development right and emission reduction efficiency. Second, China's carbon emission intensity should be cut, but its absolute carbon emission volume may inevitably increase in the future due to the continuous economic growth, and we confirm that the western provinces may take the highest shares to increase carbon emissions, followed by the central, northeast and eastern provinces. Finally, in order to achieve the national target of carbon emission intensity reduction, the northeast and eastern provinces require reducing carbon emission intensity significantly from 2013 to 2020, while the central and western provinces should be given more developing room.