Provincial and sector-level material footprints in China

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Resource Economics
• Industrial Ecology

Background:

• Global material demands are often outsourced to lower-income nations, causing environmental damage.
• China significantly contributes to the global material footprint (MF), necessitating an understanding of its internal distribution.
• Internal resource outsourcing within large countries like China mirrors global patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the provincial and sectoral distribution and development of China's material footprint.
• To identify key drivers of material footprint variations across Chinese provinces.
• To inform resource efficiency and circular economy strategies within China and globally.

Main Methods:

• Utilized provincial-level input-output data combined with sector- and province-specific trade data.
• Integrated detailed material extraction data and the global input-output database EXIOBASE.
• Conducted a comprehensive analysis of China's material footprint at provincial and sectoral levels.

Main Results:

• Some Chinese provinces exhibit material footprints comparable to medium-sized, high-income countries.
• Lower-income regions with high extraction levels can possess per capita material footprints as large as developed provinces.
• Capital formation drives a substantial portion (49-86%) of provincial material footprints, being significantly more resource-intensive than consumption.

Conclusions:

• Limited evidence of material decoupling exists within China, with significant disparities in material footprint per capita.
• Resource-efficient production, efficient capital goods utilization, and circular design are crucial for reducing China's material footprint.
• Policy interventions should focus on high-quality development and prevent the outsourcing of high-intensity activities to other regions or countries.