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As the largest user of primary materials globally China has made a commitment to rebuild its economy to a circular model and to enhance the efficiency of material use, which is spelled out in the Circular Economy Promotion Law. Measuring progress of the new policy requires datasets, metrics and indicators that monitor the performance of the economy regarding the scale of primary materials use, waste flows, and recycling and circularity. We employ material flow analysis, including measures for inputs and outputs, to assess progress of the circular economy in China over time. We find that circularity increased from 2.7% to 5.8% between 1995 and 2015, from an input socioeconomic cycling rate perspective. End of life waste recycling improved from 7.2% to 17% over the same time frame and occurred against the backdrop of a strong physical growth dynamic during this whole period. We present a set of policy indicators and situate them in the context of the Chinese indicator sets for a Green Development Indicator System, the Ecological Civilization Construction Assessment Target System and the Sustainable Development Goals. Moving from an economy based on infrastructure and capital investment production for the world market, to a consumption-based economy, may increase the potential for circular economy in China in the future. The policy indicators can also be used to set targets and create ambition for a swift transition to closed loop urban and industrial systems in China.
Heming Wang; Heinz Schandl; Xinzhe Wang; Fengmei Ma; Qiang Yue; Guoqiang Wang; Yao Wang; Yao Wei; Zhihe Zhang; Ruiying Zheng. Measuring progress of China's circular economy. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2020, 163, 105070 .
AMA StyleHeming Wang, Heinz Schandl, Xinzhe Wang, Fengmei Ma, Qiang Yue, Guoqiang Wang, Yao Wang, Yao Wei, Zhihe Zhang, Ruiying Zheng. Measuring progress of China's circular economy. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2020; 163 ():105070.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeming Wang; Heinz Schandl; Xinzhe Wang; Fengmei Ma; Qiang Yue; Guoqiang Wang; Yao Wang; Yao Wei; Zhihe Zhang; Ruiying Zheng. 2020. "Measuring progress of China's circular economy." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 163, no. : 105070.
Construction materials are considerable forces of global environmental impacts, but their dynamics vis‐à‐vis urban development are poorly documented, in part because their long lifespans require elusive and sometimes nonexistent decade‐long high‐resolution data. This study analyzes the construction material flow and stock trends that shaped and were shaped by the development, decline, and renewal of the Tiexi district of Shenyang, a microcosm of China's urban transformations since the early 20th century. Chronicling building‐by‐building the material flows and stock accumulations involved in the buildup of this area, we shed light on the physical resource context of its socioeconomic history. We find that 42 million tonnes of construction materials were needed to develop the Tiexi district from 1910 to 2018, and 18 million tonnes of material outflows were generated by end‐of‐life building demolition. However, over 55% of inflows and 93% of outflows occurred since 2002 during a complete redevelopment of the district. Only small portions of end‐of‐life materials could have been reused or recycled because of temporal and typological mismatches of supply and demand and technical limitations. Our analysis reveals a dramatic decrease in median building lifetimes to as low as 6 years in the early 21st century. These findings contribute to the discussion of long‐term environmental efficiency and sustainability of societal development through construction and reflect on the challenges of urban renewal processes not only in China but also in other developing and developed countries that lost (or may lose) their traditional economic base and restructure their urban forms. This article met the requirements for a Silver/Silver JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.
Jing Guo; Tomer Fishman; Yao Wang; Alessio Miatto; Wendy Wuyts; Licheng Zheng; Heming Wang; Hiroki Tanikawa. Urban development and sustainability challenges chronicled by a century of construction material flows and stocks in Tiexi, China. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2020, 25, 162 -175.
AMA StyleJing Guo, Tomer Fishman, Yao Wang, Alessio Miatto, Wendy Wuyts, Licheng Zheng, Heming Wang, Hiroki Tanikawa. Urban development and sustainability challenges chronicled by a century of construction material flows and stocks in Tiexi, China. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2020; 25 (1):162-175.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJing Guo; Tomer Fishman; Yao Wang; Alessio Miatto; Wendy Wuyts; Licheng Zheng; Heming Wang; Hiroki Tanikawa. 2020. "Urban development and sustainability challenges chronicled by a century of construction material flows and stocks in Tiexi, China." Journal of Industrial Ecology 25, no. 1: 162-175.
China is the largest producer and consumer of cement worldwide, and cement production entails the release of substantial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As the cement sector is a crucial sector of the Chinese economy, understanding the role of supply‐ and demand‐side factors may help accelerate efforts to mitigate CO2 emissions. However, few studies have analyzed the critical factors affecting CO2 emissions in the sector based on a combined supply‐ and demand‐side perspective. In this study, we developed an integrated framework that included eleven indicators covering both the supply and demand sides. Results revealed that improving cement production technology cannot offset CO2 emissions from the growth in demand for cement. Improving technology on the supply side would considerably reduce CO2 emissions from Chinese cement production; nevertheless, the combination of rapid urbanization, GDP growth, and an ultra‐high fixed capital formation ratio on the demand side increased CO2 emissions nearly 25‐fold from 1990 to 2015. Notably, some demand‐side factors also had an effect that reduced CO2 emissions. The in‐use stock per unit of fixed capital formation and output per in‐use stock reduced CO2 emissions by 332 million metric tons, which is comparable to the contribution of technological progress. Based on these results, we examine why these demand‐side factors substantially influence CO2 emissions in the Chinese cement sector, and we provide recommendations for policy‐makers on carbon‐reduction measures in this CO2‐intensive sector.
Tao Du; Jian Wang; Heming Wang; Xin Tian; Qiang Yue; Hiroki Tanikawa. CO 2 emissions from the Chinese cement sector: Analysis from both the supply and demand sides. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2020, 24, 923 -934.
AMA StyleTao Du, Jian Wang, Heming Wang, Xin Tian, Qiang Yue, Hiroki Tanikawa. CO 2 emissions from the Chinese cement sector: Analysis from both the supply and demand sides. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2020; 24 (4):923-934.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTao Du; Jian Wang; Heming Wang; Xin Tian; Qiang Yue; Hiroki Tanikawa. 2020. "CO 2 emissions from the Chinese cement sector: Analysis from both the supply and demand sides." Journal of Industrial Ecology 24, no. 4: 923-934.
Petroleum refining is a technology complex, energy- and CO2 emission-intensive industrial process, which is affected by the type and property of the crude oil. China has been the exploitation of crude oil to paraffinic most. This paper targets to quantify and evaluate the material or energy metabolism and environment loads of paraffin-based petroleum at refining process unit-level through the established petroleum flow and energy flow on the CO2 emissions accounting framework, and explores energy conservation and CO2 emission reduction pathways and policy implications, using a typical paraffin-based petroleum refining enterprise in China as a case. The results indicated that the crude oil from the inputs were fractionated in the atmospheric and vacuum distillation (AVD) unit, and its energy consumption and CO2 emissions accounted for 14.38% and 13.2% of the total energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the case study, respectively. With the transformation of petroleum refinery plant structure, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), ketone benzol dewaxing (KBD), and delayed coking units dominated more energy consumption and CO2 emissions. FCC unit was both the largest energy consumer and supplier, flue gas waste heat recovery efficiency of which was an important factor affecting energy conservation and CO2 emission reduction for FCC unit and even enterprise. KBD unit records the largest energy and CO2 emission intensities, which are 67.95 kgce/t product and 256.82 kgCO2e/t product respectively, due to the high wax content of paraffin-based crude oil and the coal-dominated power generation structure. Based on these research findings, three mitigation policy recommendations were proposed, including the improvement of energy efficiency, optimization of energy consumption structure and product output structure. Carbon capture and storage can reduce CO2 emission by about a third in the concentrated units of primary energy consumption (i.e. AVD, FCC, and DC). The results of this paper are key components of the life cycle assessment of the CO2 emissions of petroleum fuels produced by domestic paraffin-based crude oil.
Feng-Rui Jia; Wan-Ting Jing; Guang-Xin Liu; Qiang Yue; He-Ming Wang; Lei Shi. Paraffin-based crude oil refining process unit-level energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 255, 120347 .
AMA StyleFeng-Rui Jia, Wan-Ting Jing, Guang-Xin Liu, Qiang Yue, He-Ming Wang, Lei Shi. Paraffin-based crude oil refining process unit-level energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 255 ():120347.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFeng-Rui Jia; Wan-Ting Jing; Guang-Xin Liu; Qiang Yue; He-Ming Wang; Lei Shi. 2020. "Paraffin-based crude oil refining process unit-level energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China." Journal of Cleaner Production 255, no. : 120347.
Supply risks and shortages of fossil fuels are major challenges to the sustainable development of countries. In response to this challenge, the 12th main goal of the Sustainable Development Goals emphasizes the importance of sustainable consumption and production patterns for resource (including fossil fuels) sustainability. However, for China, the world's largest energy consumer, the availability and criticality of fossil fuels to economic development have not been studied at sub-national scales. Understanding these can help fossil fuel management and the implementation of policies in different regions. This study is the first to analyse the scarcity-weighted fossil fuel footprint in China at the provincial level for 2012 using an environmentally extended multi-regional input-output model and a newly proposed scarcity evaluation indicator. Using scarcity-weighted indicators allows us to identify supply insecurities that are not revealed when focusing on fossil fuel extraction. The scarcity-weighted fossil fuel indicators identify new critical regions such as Hunan and Hubei. We also find that interprovincial export is a major driver of fossil fuel depletion in less-developed regions (e.g., 83% for Shanxi). This study can help regions in China identify fossil fuel supply risks from the viewpoint of their natural capital endowment and resource depletion in relation to final demand. More importantly, the research findings provide a valuable reference for policymakers when reassessing sustainability not only for fossil fuels but also for other natural resources at multiple scales within and beyond China.
Heming Wang; Guoqiang Wang; Jianchuan Qi; Heinz Schandl; Yumeng Li; Cuiyang Feng; Xuechun Yang; Yao Wang; Xinzhe Wang; Sai Liang. Scarcity-weighted fossil fuel footprint of China at the provincial level. Applied Energy 2019, 258, 114081 .
AMA StyleHeming Wang, Guoqiang Wang, Jianchuan Qi, Heinz Schandl, Yumeng Li, Cuiyang Feng, Xuechun Yang, Yao Wang, Xinzhe Wang, Sai Liang. Scarcity-weighted fossil fuel footprint of China at the provincial level. Applied Energy. 2019; 258 ():114081.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeming Wang; Guoqiang Wang; Jianchuan Qi; Heinz Schandl; Yumeng Li; Cuiyang Feng; Xuechun Yang; Yao Wang; Xinzhe Wang; Sai Liang. 2019. "Scarcity-weighted fossil fuel footprint of China at the provincial level." Applied Energy 258, no. : 114081.
Heming Wang; Heinz Schandl; Guoqiang Wang; Lin Ma; Yao Wang. Regional material flow accounts for China: Examining China's natural resource use at the provincial and national level. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2019, 23, 1425 -1438.
AMA StyleHeming Wang, Heinz Schandl, Guoqiang Wang, Lin Ma, Yao Wang. Regional material flow accounts for China: Examining China's natural resource use at the provincial and national level. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2019; 23 (6):1425-1438.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeming Wang; Heinz Schandl; Guoqiang Wang; Lin Ma; Yao Wang. 2019. "Regional material flow accounts for China: Examining China's natural resource use at the provincial and national level." Journal of Industrial Ecology 23, no. 6: 1425-1438.
The rapid urbanization in China since the 1970s has led to an exponential growth of metal stocks (MS) in use in cities. A retrospect on the quantity, quality, and patterns of these MS is a prerequisite for projecting future metal demand, identifying urban mining potentials of metals, and informing sustainable urbanization strategies. Here, we deployed a bottom-up stock accounting method to estimate stocks of iron, copper, and aluminum embodied in 51 categories of products and infrastructure across 10 Chinese megacities from 1980 to 2016. We found that the MS in Chinese megacities had reached a level of 2.6-6.3 t/cap (on average 3.7 t/cap for iron, 58 kg/cap for copper, and 151 kg/cap for aluminum) in 2016, which still remained behind the level of western cities or potential saturation level on the country level (e.g., approximately 13 t/cap for iron). Economic development was identified as the most powerful driver for MS growth based on an IPAT decomposition analysis, indicating further increase in MS as China's urbanization and economic growth continues in the next decades. The latecomer cities should therefore explore a wide range of strategies, from urban planning to economy structure to regulations, for a transition toward more "metal-efficient" urbanization pathways.
Qiance Liu; Zhi Cao; Xiaojie Liu; Litao Liu; Tao Dai; Ji Han; Huabo Duan; Chang Wang; Heming Wang; Jun Liu; Guotian Cai; Ruichang Mao; Gaoshang Wang; Juan Tan; Shenggong Li; Gang Liu. Product and Metal Stocks Accumulation of China’s Megacities: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications. Environmental Science & Technology 2019, 53, 4128 -4139.
AMA StyleQiance Liu, Zhi Cao, Xiaojie Liu, Litao Liu, Tao Dai, Ji Han, Huabo Duan, Chang Wang, Heming Wang, Jun Liu, Guotian Cai, Ruichang Mao, Gaoshang Wang, Juan Tan, Shenggong Li, Gang Liu. Product and Metal Stocks Accumulation of China’s Megacities: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications. Environmental Science & Technology. 2019; 53 (8):4128-4139.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQiance Liu; Zhi Cao; Xiaojie Liu; Litao Liu; Tao Dai; Ji Han; Huabo Duan; Chang Wang; Heming Wang; Jun Liu; Guotian Cai; Ruichang Mao; Gaoshang Wang; Juan Tan; Shenggong Li; Gang Liu. 2019. "Product and Metal Stocks Accumulation of China’s Megacities: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications." Environmental Science & Technology 53, no. 8: 4128-4139.
Shen Zhao; Heming Wang; Wei-Qiang Chen; Dong Yang; Jing-Ru Liu; Feng Shi. Environmental impacts of domestic resource extraction in China. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability 2019, 5, 67 -78.
AMA StyleShen Zhao, Heming Wang, Wei-Qiang Chen, Dong Yang, Jing-Ru Liu, Feng Shi. Environmental impacts of domestic resource extraction in China. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 2019; 5 (1):67-78.
Chicago/Turabian StyleShen Zhao; Heming Wang; Wei-Qiang Chen; Dong Yang; Jing-Ru Liu; Feng Shi. 2019. "Environmental impacts of domestic resource extraction in China." Ecosystem Health and Sustainability 5, no. 1: 67-78.
Owing to the significant recent economic development in China, petroleum consumption has increased exponentially. This has caused an associated increase in CO2 emissions from the energy sector. This study evaluates development trends in dynamic petroleum flows and spatial patterns in petroleum products consumption (PC) and petroleum-related CO2 emissions (PRCEs) at the provincial level in China from 1995 to 2017. We first established a dynamic material flow analysis model for petroleum flow to quantify the environmental load generated by petroleum flows. A spatial pattern analysis was performed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution and centers of PC and PRCEs and reveal the spatial clusters or outliers of the PC and PRCE intensity. The results showed that: there is a bi-directional causal relationship between economic growth and PC, and the optimization of economic structure changed the PC structure and reduced PRCE intensity. PC and PRCEs were characterized by spatial differences and imbalances at the provincial level over the period of 1995–2017. The spatial patterns of the hotspots for PC and PRCEs exhibited an inverted F-shape, i.e., concentrated on the provinces along the east coast and the Yangtze River. The spatial mean centers are distributed in eastern China and showed a gradual shift towards the southwest. There is evident cluster effect for the regional PC and PRCEs intensities. Economically underdeveloped provinces had higher PC and PRCE intensity values, such as Heilongjiang and Xinjiang provinces. Spatial differences in PC and PRCEs among provinces should be carefully considered in policy preparation. These spatial differences accelerate petroleum-related infrastructure construction, stabilize domestic petroleum production, and optimize the economic structure that can reduce the reliance on PC and form an effective measure for PRCE reduction.
Guang-Xin Liu; Ming Wu; Feng-Rui Jia; Qiang Yue; He-Ming Wang. Material flow analysis and spatial pattern analysis of petroleum products consumption and petroleum-related CO2 emissions in China during 1995–2017. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 209, 40 -52.
AMA StyleGuang-Xin Liu, Ming Wu, Feng-Rui Jia, Qiang Yue, He-Ming Wang. Material flow analysis and spatial pattern analysis of petroleum products consumption and petroleum-related CO2 emissions in China during 1995–2017. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 209 ():40-52.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuang-Xin Liu; Ming Wu; Feng-Rui Jia; Qiang Yue; He-Ming Wang. 2018. "Material flow analysis and spatial pattern analysis of petroleum products consumption and petroleum-related CO2 emissions in China during 1995–2017." Journal of Cleaner Production 209, no. : 40-52.
This study investigated the petroleum consumption and petroleum‐related CO2 emissions (PCOEs) in Northeast China at city level using material flow analysis (MFA) and spatial data analysis (SDA). The petroleum flows for the year 2014 were plotted, and then the spatial patterns, weighted mean centers (WMCs), and spatial autocorrelations of petroleum consumption and PCOEs were calculated, respectively. It was found that Northeast China is a petroleum exploitation‐processing‐export region in China; the total input of petroleum flows comprised two parts—exploitation (about 60%) and import (about 40%). About one third of the total product oil supply flowed into other provinces. In the consumption process, the product oil was dominated by two sectors: the industry sector (45.5%) and the transportation sector (31%). The rate of PCOEs was 36.69 million tonnes in the waste discharge process. Meanwhile, the WMCs of the petroleum consumption and the PCOEs were located in the south of Northeast China. The location of the petroleum pipelines was the factor shown to determine the spatial patterns of petroleum consumption and PCOEs and the hotspots were distributed along the petroleum pipeline, especially in the Circum‐Bohai Sea regions. Economic development in these regions shows a positive dependence on petroleum consumption and generates larger PCOEs. The findings obtained in this study could provide important decision‐making support to low‐carbon development in Northeast China.
Guang-Xin Liu; Ming Wu; Feng-Rui Jia; Qiang Yue; He-Ming Wang. Material Flow and Spatial Data Analysis of the Petroleum Use to Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Emissions in Northeast China. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2018, 23, 823 -837.
AMA StyleGuang-Xin Liu, Ming Wu, Feng-Rui Jia, Qiang Yue, He-Ming Wang. Material Flow and Spatial Data Analysis of the Petroleum Use to Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Emissions in Northeast China. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2018; 23 (4):823-837.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuang-Xin Liu; Ming Wu; Feng-Rui Jia; Qiang Yue; He-Ming Wang. 2018. "Material Flow and Spatial Data Analysis of the Petroleum Use to Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Emissions in Northeast China." Journal of Industrial Ecology 23, no. 4: 823-837.
Heming Wang; Shen Zhao; Yao Wei; Qiang Yue; Tao Du. Measuring the Decoupling Progress in Developed and Developing Countries. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Management and Computer Science (ICMCS 2018) 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleHeming Wang, Shen Zhao, Yao Wei, Qiang Yue, Tao Du. Measuring the Decoupling Progress in Developed and Developing Countries. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Management and Computer Science (ICMCS 2018). 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeming Wang; Shen Zhao; Yao Wei; Qiang Yue; Tao Du. 2018. "Measuring the Decoupling Progress in Developed and Developing Countries." Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Management and Computer Science (ICMCS 2018) , no. : 1.
China is one of the largest consumers of natural resources worldwide and this has led to increasing pressure on scarce resources. An understanding of the use of natural resources in the Chinese economy is thus important to mitigate resource scarcity at the global scale. This study investigates the natural resource flows within the economic system of China from the raw material extraction to the final production. We identify critical sectors using a variety of methods and consider the various roles of the sectors in the consumption of natural resources in the economy. We also identify critical supply chain paths using a structural path analysis (SPA). The results show that the intermediate-based approach complements the traditional direct and consumption-based approaches and highlights critical sectors for the consumption of domestic resource extraction in China such as Crop cultivation, Cotton and chemical fiber products, and Glass products. The most critical supply chain paths originate from the resource extraction sectors and ultimately end in the Construction sector (e.g., stone, lime, plaster, ceramic), given that more than half of the domestic resource extraction is driven by the Construction sector. To reduce the consumption of domestic resource extraction in China, the government should focus on the critical sectors and supply chain paths identified using our methods for targeted policy interventions.
Jian Wang; Tao Du; Heming Wang; Sai Liang; Ming Xu. Identifying critical sectors and supply chain paths for the consumption of domestic resource extraction in China. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 208, 1577 -1586.
AMA StyleJian Wang, Tao Du, Heming Wang, Sai Liang, Ming Xu. Identifying critical sectors and supply chain paths for the consumption of domestic resource extraction in China. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 208 ():1577-1586.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJian Wang; Tao Du; Heming Wang; Sai Liang; Ming Xu. 2018. "Identifying critical sectors and supply chain paths for the consumption of domestic resource extraction in China." Journal of Cleaner Production 208, no. : 1577-1586.
Based on a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) framework, a system of Material Flow Indicators for Petroleum Flows (MFIs-PF) in China during 1980–2015 was established and Comprehensively Evaluated (CE) using the entropy method. The comprehensive evaluation represented petroleum flows efficiency in terms of three different aspects: petroleum inputs, flows, and outputs. The CE results showed that petroleum flows efficiency exhibited a slow increase by 45%, with fluctuations for the period 1980–2015. However, there were significant differences among the developmental trajectories of the MFIs-PF. With respect to inputs indicators, direct petroleum inputs occupied the biggest weight in MFIs-PF system, furthermore, the direct petroleum inputs and dependence on petroleum imports grew rapidly, increasing from 106 million tonnes and 0.3% in 1980 to 550 million tonnes and 61% in 2015, respectively. Regarding flows indicators, the growth rate of petroleum production was slower than that of petroleum consumption, and the average of elasticity of petroleum production and consumption were approximately 0.23 and 0.73, respectively. In addition, the increase of the net addition to stocks reduced fluctuations in CE since 2010. Output indicators played a negative role in the development of petroleum flow efficiency and increased environmental load. Petroleum-related CO2 emissions grew by 4.3 times with the increase in petroleum consumption from 1980 to 2015 and expected to peak in 2035. While indirect CO2 emissions of petroleum flows processes fluctuated within the range of 96–217 kg CO2/t petroleum, with an average of 153 kg CO2/t petroleum. Driven by the policies, broadening the sources of petroleum imports, increasing domestic petroleum stock, and improving the efficiency of petroleum utilization are effective measures to increase the petroleum flows efficiency.
Guang-Xin Liu; Ming Wu; Feng-Rui Jia; Qiang Yue; Heming Wang. Entropy-weighted comprehensive evaluation of petroleum flow in China during 1980–2015. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 195, 593 -604.
AMA StyleGuang-Xin Liu, Ming Wu, Feng-Rui Jia, Qiang Yue, Heming Wang. Entropy-weighted comprehensive evaluation of petroleum flow in China during 1980–2015. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 195 ():593-604.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuang-Xin Liu; Ming Wu; Feng-Rui Jia; Qiang Yue; Heming Wang. 2018. "Entropy-weighted comprehensive evaluation of petroleum flow in China during 1980–2015." Journal of Cleaner Production 195, no. : 593-604.
Liaoning Province is one of the most important industrial bases in China that is confronting the challenges of resource restriction during the rapid industrialization and urbanization process. To explore the materialization process on an economy, previous studies have focused on the Material Footprint (MF), a consumption-based indicator of resource use, at the national level, but few results are available at the subdivision level, especially in rapidly developing China. In this study, a Structural Decomposition Analysis (SDA) was conducted of the MF of Liaoning to understand the key drivers behind the consumption of raw materials. The results show that Liaoning’s MF more than tripled, with an average annual growth rate of 13.4%, rising from 534 Mt to 1880 Mt during 2002–2012. Among the four material categories, nonmetallic minerals dominated the MF by 55–77% and contributed 83.3% to the total increase. From a sectoral viewpoint, construction dominated the MF by 65–85% and accounted for 90.8% of growth. In addition, among the four categories of final demand, investment played a prominent role in the MF, which more than quadrupled from 414 Mt (77.5%) in 2002 to 1701 Mt (90.5%) in 2012. The SDA results show that per capita final demand level was the strongest contributor, and that production structure was another chief contributor. In contrast, the significant improvement in material intensity and final demand composition played an important role in dematerialization of Liaoning. Optimizing investment towards less material-intensive sectors and designing mandatory targets for non-energy resources should be given more importance.
Fengmei Ma; Heming Wang; Bing Zhu; Dingjiang Chen; Hancheng Dai; Jian Wang; Shen Zhao; Qiang Yue; Guangsheng Zhang; Yang Xie; Yong Geng; Tao Du. Material footprint of a fast-industrializing region in China, Part 1: Exploring the materialization process of Liaoning Province. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2018, 134, 228 -238.
AMA StyleFengmei Ma, Heming Wang, Bing Zhu, Dingjiang Chen, Hancheng Dai, Jian Wang, Shen Zhao, Qiang Yue, Guangsheng Zhang, Yang Xie, Yong Geng, Tao Du. Material footprint of a fast-industrializing region in China, Part 1: Exploring the materialization process of Liaoning Province. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2018; 134 ():228-238.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFengmei Ma; Heming Wang; Bing Zhu; Dingjiang Chen; Hancheng Dai; Jian Wang; Shen Zhao; Qiang Yue; Guangsheng Zhang; Yang Xie; Yong Geng; Tao Du. 2018. "Material footprint of a fast-industrializing region in China, Part 1: Exploring the materialization process of Liaoning Province." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 134, no. : 228-238.
On one hand, natural resources and energy provide the basis for life on earth, but waste and emissions are produced during their throughput on the other hand. China, as the most populous country and an emerging economic powerhouse, has taken on the challenge of hitting peak carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030. Pursuing resource co-benefits from carbon mitigation is an effective approach for China on the road to achieving the 2030 goal. In this study, we combine the computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and the economy-wide material flow accounts or analysis (EW-MFA) method to estimate China's future CO2 emissions and resource consumption, and their co-benefit effect. Three scenarios are analyzed: business as usual (BaU), nationally determined contributions (NDC), and the scenario of achieving the 2-degree target (2deg). We find that both the NDC and 2deg targets can be achieved by 2030 without a significant compromise in economic growth. With the effect of carbon mitigation, China's resource consumption would rise by a factor of 1.7 (BaU), 1.6 (NDC), and 1.5 (2deg) during 2012–2030, and the reduction in co-benefits of metal ores, nonmetallic minerals, and fossil fuels would be 0.6 billion tons and 1.4 billion tons, 0.8 billion tons and 2.0 billion tons, and 2.6 billion tons and 4.6 billion tons for NDC and 2deg, respectively. Sectoral disparity indicates that sectors with high emissions and resource consumption include traditional heavy industrial sectors and energy-related sectors, for which additional mitigation policies should be employed, not only because they offer the most co-benefit effects, but they also have the least cost.
Heming Wang; Hancheng Dai; Liang Dong; Yang Xie; Yong Geng; Qiang Yue; Fengmei Ma; Jian Wang; Tao Du. Co-benefit of carbon mitigation on resource use in China. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 174, 1096 -1113.
AMA StyleHeming Wang, Hancheng Dai, Liang Dong, Yang Xie, Yong Geng, Qiang Yue, Fengmei Ma, Jian Wang, Tao Du. Co-benefit of carbon mitigation on resource use in China. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 174 ():1096-1113.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeming Wang; Hancheng Dai; Liang Dong; Yang Xie; Yong Geng; Qiang Yue; Fengmei Ma; Jian Wang; Tao Du. 2017. "Co-benefit of carbon mitigation on resource use in China." Journal of Cleaner Production 174, no. : 1096-1113.
Qiang Yue; Heming Wang; Chengkang Gao; Tao Du; Mingjun Li; Zhongwu Lu. Analysis of iron in-use stocks in China. Resources Policy 2016, 49, 315 -322.
AMA StyleQiang Yue, Heming Wang, Chengkang Gao, Tao Du, Mingjun Li, Zhongwu Lu. Analysis of iron in-use stocks in China. Resources Policy. 2016; 49 ():315-322.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQiang Yue; Heming Wang; Chengkang Gao; Tao Du; Mingjun Li; Zhongwu Lu. 2016. "Analysis of iron in-use stocks in China." Resources Policy 49, no. : 315-322.
Primary aluminum production has increased rapidly in China since the year 2000, gaining a 46.0% share of global production in 2014. Primary aluminum production is a process high in energy and materials consumption that also generates much waste. Investigating resource and energy savings and emission reductions in the Chinese aluminum industry is an important and urgent task. Holistic thinking is applied in deriving and analyzing the equations for energy consumption (E), materials consumption (M), and waste emissions (W). Aluminum production per unit GDP (T) is an important parameter influencing E, M, and W; and the historical value of T (including two decomposition factors of T) in China is reviewed first. Based on the equations obtained, the extent of the factors influencing E, M, and W after the year 2000 is analyzed. Then two scenarios (original scheme and recommended scheme) analysis are presented and their respective indices were forecast. From comparisons with USA and Japan, it is found that the recommended scheme can meet aluminum requirements in China if some progress is made. A macroscopic regulation and control network diagram of the aluminum industry is proposed and some parameters are derived from this diagram. From the equations based on these parameters, several ratios among these parameters are identified as the key points that need to be controlled currently in the aluminum industry. Finally, some suggestions are put forward to provide reference points for policy makers.
Qiang Yue; Heming Wang; Chengkang Gao; Tao Du; Liying Liu; Zhongwu Lu. Resources saving and emissions reduction of the aluminum industry in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2015, 104, 68 -75.
AMA StyleQiang Yue, Heming Wang, Chengkang Gao, Tao Du, Liying Liu, Zhongwu Lu. Resources saving and emissions reduction of the aluminum industry in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2015; 104 ():68-75.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQiang Yue; Heming Wang; Chengkang Gao; Tao Du; Liying Liu; Zhongwu Lu. 2015. "Resources saving and emissions reduction of the aluminum industry in China." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 104, no. : 68-75.
The resource‐development trajectory of developed countries after the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries can be portrayed as an “environmental mountain” (EM). It is important for developing countries to decouple their resource use from economic growth and tunnel through the EM. In this study, we embedded the decoupling indicators for resource use and waste emissions into EM curves to quantify China's progress in tunneling through the EM over a specific time period. Five case studies regarding the conditions required for decoupling energy consumption, crude steel production, cement production, CO2 emissions, and SO2 emissions from economic growth in China were conducted. The results indicated that during 1985–2010 the trajectories of energy consumption, and CO2 and SO2 emissions in China met the requirements for tunneling through the EM, but the trajectories of cement and steel production did not. Based on these results, suggestions regarding China's environmental policies are provided to enable the country to tunnel through the EM.
Zhongwu Lu; Heming Wang; Qiang Yue. Decoupling Analysis of the Environmental Mountain-with Case Studies from China. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2014, 19, 1082 -1090.
AMA StyleZhongwu Lu, Heming Wang, Qiang Yue. Decoupling Analysis of the Environmental Mountain-with Case Studies from China. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2014; 19 (6):1082-1090.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhongwu Lu; Heming Wang; Qiang Yue. 2014. "Decoupling Analysis of the Environmental Mountain-with Case Studies from China." Journal of Industrial Ecology 19, no. 6: 1082-1090.
China’s rapidly growing economy is accelerating its materialization process and thereby creating serious environmental problems at both local and global levels. Understanding the key drivers behind China’s mass consumption of raw materials is thus crucial for developing sustainable resource management and providing valuable insights into how other emerging economies may be aiming to accomplish a low resource-dependent future. Our results show that China’s raw material consumption (RMC) rose dramatically from 11.9 billion tons in 1997 to 20.4 billion tons in 2007, at an average annual growth rate at 5.5%. In particular, nonferrous metal minerals and iron ores increased at the highest rate, while nonmetallic minerals showed the greatest proportion (over 60%). We find that China’s accelerating materialization process is closely related to its levels of urbanization and industrialization, notably demand for raw materials in the construction, services, and heavy manufacturing sectors. The growing domestic final demand level is the strongest contributor of China’s growth in RMC, whereas changes in final demand composition are the largest contributors to reducing it. However, the expected offsetting effect from changes in production pattern and production-related technology level, which should be the focus of future dematerialization in China, could not be found.
Heming Wang; Xin Tian; Hiroki Tanikawa; Miao Chang; Seiji Hashimoto; Yuichi Moriguchi; Zhongwu Lu. Exploring China’s Materialization Process with Economic Transition: Analysis of Raw Material Consumption and Its Socioeconomic Drivers. Environmental Science & Technology 2014, 48, 5025 -5032.
AMA StyleHeming Wang, Xin Tian, Hiroki Tanikawa, Miao Chang, Seiji Hashimoto, Yuichi Moriguchi, Zhongwu Lu. Exploring China’s Materialization Process with Economic Transition: Analysis of Raw Material Consumption and Its Socioeconomic Drivers. Environmental Science & Technology. 2014; 48 (9):5025-5032.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeming Wang; Xin Tian; Hiroki Tanikawa; Miao Chang; Seiji Hashimoto; Yuichi Moriguchi; Zhongwu Lu. 2014. "Exploring China’s Materialization Process with Economic Transition: Analysis of Raw Material Consumption and Its Socioeconomic Drivers." Environmental Science & Technology 48, no. 9: 5025-5032.
Qiang Yue; He-Ming Wang; Zhong-Wu Lü; Sheng-Ke Zhi. Analysis of anthropogenic aluminum cycle in China. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 2014, 24, 1134 -1144.
AMA StyleQiang Yue, He-Ming Wang, Zhong-Wu Lü, Sheng-Ke Zhi. Analysis of anthropogenic aluminum cycle in China. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China. 2014; 24 (4):1134-1144.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQiang Yue; He-Ming Wang; Zhong-Wu Lü; Sheng-Ke Zhi. 2014. "Analysis of anthropogenic aluminum cycle in China." Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 24, no. 4: 1134-1144.