Reduced urban-rural inequality in household greenhouse gas footprints and rising trade-related inequalities in China

Abstract

Household consumption has significantly contributed to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with urban residents contributing nearly three-quarters of these emissions. However, previous studies overlook the role of non-CO₂ in household emission accounting framework and did not comprehensively assess the inequality embodied in the trade. Here we examine the GHG emissions from Chinese households between 2007 and 2017 based on the multi-regional input-output model and socioeconomic datasets. Our findings reveal that while urban-rural inequality in per capita GHG footprints narrowed in most provinces, urban households maintain higher per capita GHG footprints due to higher income and more affluent lifestyles. Interprovincial inequalities also decreased, with the maximum per capita footprint gap shrinking from 5.3 tCO₂e to 4.5 tCO₂e and the Gini coefficient falling from 0.41 to 0.37 during the decade. Additionally, comparisons of production- and consumption-based GHG footprints highlight that trade has exacerbated regional inequalities due to urbanization and economic development disparities. To achieve net-zero emissions, we emphasize the importance of promoting low-carbon lifestyles, increasing incomes for lower-income households, and reducing the GHG intensity of affluent urban households.