Embodied Carbon Emissions in Export of Yangtze River Delta: Calculation and Decomposition of Driving Factors

The total export of the Yangtze River Delta exceeds 1/3 of China. This region is the backbone of China’s emission reduction and green transformation exports. This paper adopts input–output analysis to calculate direct carbon emission coefficients and embodied carbon in exports. Using the LMDI method, the total embodied carbon emissions and driving factors are quantitatively analyzed by region in terms of scale effect, structural effect and technology effect. Based on the results of the study, the government should actively promote the achievement of carbon neutrality goals by setting carbon emission standards or introducing regulatory policies and incentive mechanisms. Meanwhile, the export structure needs to be continuously optimized. It is necessary to accelerate technological innovation while actively promoting and encouraging the adoption of new energy sources in order to take a low-carbon, clean and sustainable green development path.