Greenhouse gas emissions estimation and ways to mitigate emissions in the Yellow River Delta High-efficient Eco-economic Zone, China

Rapid economic development and urbanization has led to a tremendous carbon emissions increase. The development of the Yellow River Delta High-efficient Eco-economic Zone (YRDHEZ), according to its plan, would be accompanied by a sharp economic increase and new pattern of urbanization. This paper, based on IPCC guidelines, explored the carbon emissions trajectory in YRDHEZ from 2005 to 2011 from 6 sectors (industrial energy consumption, fugitive emissions, transportation, industrial processes, livestock emissions, and waste), and predicted its carbon emissions in 2015 and 2020 based on the development plan. The results showed that total carbon emissions substantially increased from 2005 to 2011 and it would still increase in 2015 and 2020, with the largest emissions sector coming from industrial energy consumption. The carbon emissions intensity decreased from 2005 to 2011, and would decrease in 2015 and 2020. The carbon emissions intensity reduction rate would fail to meet the national target of 40-45% reduction in 2020 compared to the level in 2005 if no further mitigation methods were adopted. To increase the mitigation of carbon emissions, universal and unique methods were proposed in YRDHEZ: industrial structure adjustment, energy efficiency improvement, and adoption of renewable energy; transformation of reserve land into eco-land; and the employment of carbon capture and storage technology in the future. These results and implications would provide valuable suggestions for development of YRDHEZ.