Information-based ecological network analysis for carbon emissions

Investigation of the carbon emission structure to produce more rational and equitable decarbonization policy options will help address large inequalities in carbon levels. This study proposes information-based ecological network analysis to evaluate the distribution of embodied carbon flows in socio-economic networks. A case study examined the relationship between embodied carbon structure and production-based carbon intensity in China. Results showed that most wealthy provinces were less carbon-intensive with embodied carbon flows being dispersed across the network. This produced a need for decentralized carbon mitigation measures. developed regions had higher production-based carbon intensities with most embodied carbon flows aggregated in a few pathways. This indicated that only parts of the economic sector were responsible for large amounts of carbon emissions embodied in products exported to other regions, which would require a centralized decarbonization policy. The proposed information-based ecological network analysis method may help facilitate rational mitigation strategies based on the specific carbon emission structures of various regions. Given the ambitious emission mitigation targets and inequitable regional development situation, our aim is to facilitate the decarbonization of China as well as contribute to rational and equal carbon mitigation policy enactment.