Abstract: Based on the detailed origins of each province’s electricity consumption, a new method for calculating CO₂ emissions from the power sector at the provincial level in China was proposed. With this so-called consumer responsibility method, the emissions embodied in imported electricity were calculated with source-specific emission factors. Using the new method, the CO₂ emissions in 2005 and 2010 were estimated. Compared with those derived from the producer responsibility method, the power exporters’ emissions decreased sharply. The emissions from the power sector in Inner Mongolia with the largest exported electricity, decreased by 109 Mt CO₂ in 2010. The value is equivalent to that from Shaanxi’s power production or Canada’s power and heat production in 2010. In contrast, the power importers’ emissions increased sustantially. The emissions from the power sector in Hebei, the largest power importer of China, increased by 74 Mt. Emissions of Beijing increased by 60 Mt (320%) in 2010. Thus, we suggest that the Chinese government should take the emissions calculated from consumption perspective into account when formulating and assessing local CO₂ emission reduction targets.

Key words: power sector, CO₂ emissions, consumer responsibility method, producer responsibility method