Quantitative assessment, spatial and temporal characteristics, and dynamic evolution of carbon emissions from animal husbandry in China: 2001–2020

Carbon emissions from animal agriculture are a major source of global greenhouse gases. This paper measures the spatial and temporal characteristics and evolution patterns of carbon emissions from livestock farming in China and 31 provinces from 2001 to 2020 based on IPCC coefficients. The paper also uses Moran’s I index, kernel density estimation, and spatial Markov chains for the analysis. The results show that the total carbon emissions from China’s livestock sector show a fluctuating downward trend. And livestock carbon emissions are concentrated in areas with better resource endowments, with grassland and grain-producing areas dominating China’s livestock carbon emissions. The spatial analysis shows that the spatial correlation of the national livestock carbon emissions is increasing, showing prominent local aggregation characteristics, mainly in the form of high-high and low-low aggregation. The transfer of carbon emissions from China’s livestock industry shows strong spatial and temporal dependence, and the transfer of regional carbon emissions is limited by the original type and stock of carbon emissions, showing growth inertia and path dependence. The findings of this paper can provide suggestions for planning and modifying policies to reduce carbon emissions in China’s livestock industry.