Inter-provincial sectoral embodied CO net-transfer analysis in China based on hypothetical extraction method and complex network analysis.

To address the CO emissions issue, China promised to increase its nationally determined contributions, trying to reach a CO emissions peak by 2030. For optimizing emission reduction policies, it is important to clarify the CO linkage structure and transfer characteristics. Previous research mainly focused on the calculation and comparison of CO linkage at the national level or the regional level and lacked inter-provincial sector-sector transfer analysis. This study uses hypothetical extraction method (HEM) to calculate the inter-provincial sectoral linkages of embodied CO in 2012 and 2015, providing a new perspective for sectoral CO linkage studies in China. We use net transfer to reveal the impact of provincial trade on the embodied CO emissions, and identify key CO emitter sectors. Combined with complex networks, we describe the clustering feature visualized and identify the transfer media sectors. The results are as follows: (1) the key sectors with large linkage are mainly the heavy industries located in North China. The electricity industry has the largest net CO outflow as the energy supplier, whereas the construction industry has the largest net inflow as the driving sector. (2) The CO transfer networks present closely connected and spatial clustering features, reflecting the embodied CO linkage between geographically adjacent sectors closer. (3) The important media sectors are mostly located in northwest China with small industrial scale and linkage degrees, such as the transport equipment industry in Shanxi. Emission reduction policies should be overall planned and tailored to local conditions. Consequently, possible policy implications of the results are discussed, which could provide additional insights for CO mitigation.