Spatiotemporal pattern of embodied carbon emissions from in-use steel stock in countries along the Belt and Road

• Published in: Resources, conservation and recycling conservation and recycling, 2025-03, Vol.214, p.108038, Article 108038
• Main Authors: Zhong, Liang, Lin, Yongpeng, Yang, Miao, He, Yuanrong, Liu, Xiaosheng, Yu, Peng, Xie, Zhiying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Belt and Road initiative; Embodied carbon emissions; In-use steel stock; Nighttime light; Spatiotemporal dynamics
• ISSN: 0921-3449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108038

•Developed a framework for quantifying dynamic embodied carbon emissions (ECE).•Evaluated multi-scale evolution of ECE from in-use steel stock (IUSS) in the B&R area.•IUSS growth resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in ECE from 1992 to 2020.•Observed geographical convergence in IUSS-ECE evolution in the B&R region.•Steelmaking, energy, recycling, and regional exchange are critical to reducing IUSS-ECE. Embodied carbon emissions (ECE) from in-use steel stocks (IUSS) are crucial for urban sustainability and climate goals, yet relevant spatiotemporal information is still lacking. This study employs multi-source spatiotemporal data to develop a dynamic estimation method, evaluating the spatiotemporal dynamics of IUSS-ECE across 67 countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) from 1992 to 2020. The results indicate that a significant increase in IUSS in the B&R region led to a 24 GtCO2 rise in ECE between 1992 and 2020, with 2005 marking a turning point for accelerated growth. ECE intensity per unit area increased from 3.4 to 5.9 ktCO2/km2, mainly in eastern B&R regions. Spatiotemporal analysis reveals the area convergence effect in ECE across the B&R, indicating that geographical relationships significantly influence ECE evolution. Additionally, the study emphasizes the significance of short-process steelmaking technology, clean energy supply, and promoting cross-regional resource circulation for the decarbonization of IUSS.