Unfolding the evolution of carbon inequality embodied in inter-provincial trade of China: Network perspective analysis

The mismatch between carbon transfer and economic benefits embodied in inter-provincial trade generates carbon inequality among provinces. Exacerbating carbon inequality would diminish the effectiveness of carbon policy, thereby challenging the realization of carbon neutrality target in China. Combining the network analysis and multi-regional input-output (MRIO) analysis, this paper depicted the unbalanced relationship between carbon transfer and value-added flow embodied in inter-provincial trade of China during 2012–2017 to shed light on the evolution features of trade-attributed carbon inequality from a multi-dimensional perspective. The research findings reveal that the carbon inequality embodied in inter-provincial trade of China has increased significantly during the study period, as the coefficient of structural equivalence between carbon transfer network and value-added transfer network decreased from 0.772 in 2012 to 0.634 in 2017. Different environmental regulation intensities and economic development levels among provinces are the main factors triggering the trade-attributed carbon inequality. During the surveyed years, some provinces such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Jiangsu have changed their roles from the drivers of carbon inequality to the leaders of green trade. Whilst some provinces located in the Northwest China which include Ningxia, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia are still placed in inferior positions in trade, and remain as the victims suffering from carbon inequality. The detected provincial communities present geographic adhesiveness and they are basically consistent with national urban agglomeration development planning. The research findings urge the need to shift from local carbon reduction to collective governance of carbon reduction, and provide supportive references for Chinese governments to develop integrated solutions and tailor-made policies towards equitable and sustainable development.