Insight into carbon emissions related to residential consumption in Tibetan Plateau-Case study of Qinghai

Carbon emissions pose a great threat to sustainability of the world's highest plateau, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Understanding carbon emissions characteristics in this region is crucial to promote ecological security with rapid development. Qinghai, located in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in western China, plays a special part in the global ecosystem. This study examines carbon emissions from residential consumption and the underlying influencing factors of the overall emission change in 2002 and 2012 in Qinghai. Findings show that total residential consumption-based carbon emissions rose rapidly between 2002 and 2012, from 1139.51 to 9066.34 Kt with an average growth of 23 % annually. The largest emitters shifted from living-type sectors (e.g. agriculture, and food and tobacco) to development-type ones (e.g. chemical products, and non-metallic mineral products); a 6-fold increase has occurred in household-related carbon emissions per capita in Qinghai from 2002 to 2012, which was mainly prompted by the household consumption level (43 %) followed by carbon intensity (27 %) and economic structure (14 %), while household consumption structure and urbanization level have relatively small effects, 10 % and 5% respectively. Given Qinghai's important role in promoting ecological security, the significant slash in carbon emissions will require a transition to a low-carbon socio-economic system. The study is helpful for making policies towards low-carbon development and the sustainable development of western China. Moreover, this study provides new insight into carbon emission differences between urban and rural residents and identifies the driving forces of carbon emissions, which could provide guidance for related research in other areas.