Empirical research on construction of a measurement framework for tourism carbon emission in China

According to the logic process of carbon reduction in China which arises from the measurement to reduction, from reduction to offsetting, the measurement of carbon emission in the tourism industry was the first and key step. Based on the life cycle assessment theory and input–output analysis, this article used economic and environmental measurement technologies, The System of National Accounting (SNA), Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), System of Integrated Environment and Economic Accounting (SEEA), and so on, and built up a top-down carbon emission analysis framework for the tourism industry and estimated carbon emission of the tourism industry in China in 2007. The finding showed that the total carbon emission of the tourism industry in China in 2007 was 169.78 million tons, covering 2.71% of carbon emission of all industries in China in 2007, and 2.44% of the total carbon emission in China in 2007. The direct carbon emission of the tourism industry in China in 2007 was 73.56 million tons, including transportation (50.14 million tons), sightseeing (1.33 million tons), lodging (4.19 million tons), accommodation (4.73 million tons), shopping (8.14 million tons), entertainment (0.67 million tons), communication (0.45 million tons), and others (3.90 million tons). The indirect carbon emission of the tourism industry in China in 2007 was 96.23 million tons, mostly contributed by coking, gas, and petroleum processing industries, transportation and warehousing industry, machinery and equipment manufacturing industry, and food manufacturing and tobacco processing industry, which covered 57%.     

产业结构变动对中国碳排放的影响

采用LMDI分解方法,对中国1996-2009年的碳排放进行分解,定量分析产业结构变动对碳排放变动的影响。在此基础上,依据对未来中国产业结构变动的预测,估算了2020年之前产业结构变动对中国碳减排的贡献。基本情况是,1996-2009年中国碳排放增长464 678万t,其中,经济总量效应531 337万t,产业结构效应49 887万t,能源消费强度效应-223 940万t,能源消费结构效应107 395万t,诸因素对碳排放增长的贡献度分别为114.3%,10.7%,-48.2%和23.1%。产业结构变动驱动了碳排放增长,尽管它不是最主要因素。进一步研究发现,高耗能产业上升或下降1个百分点所对应的CO2排放量增加或减少2.2-2.9亿t。依据对高耗能产业结构变动值的预测,到2020年,产业结构变动效应约为-5亿t,占期间碳排放增量的-15%。这表明,与此前产业结构变动导致碳排放量增加情形相反,未来产业结构变动将有助于减少碳排放。     

湖南省碳源与碳汇变化的时序分析

在全球气候变暖的背景下，减少温室气体排放、发展低碳经济成为各地区在发展中的普遍共识。以湖南省为研究区域，以1995~2008年为研究时序，从能源消费、主要工业产品生产工艺过程、土地利用变化与牲畜管理、固体废弃物处理与废水处理和排放4个方面综合分析了碳源与碳汇的变化情况。研究表明:1995~2008年，湖南省温室气体排放总量约在220亿t（2000年）至399亿t（2008年）CO2当量之间，14 a间增长了6118%，年均增长374%；碳汇总量约在1754亿t（1995年）至2537亿t（2007年）CO2当量之间，14 a间增长了3607%，年均增长约240%；能源消费与农业部门是湖南省温室气体的主要来源，林地是湖南省碳汇的主要来源；综合碳源与碳汇变化的均衡结果，1995~2008年湖南省呈碳汇盈余状态，净碳汇在2001~2007年持续增加，14 a间增长了31.94%，年均增长2.15%     

Carbon dioxide emissions from cities in China based on high resolution emission gridded data

Based on the China high resolution emission gridded data (1 km spatial resolution), this article is aimed to create a Chinese city carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission data set using consolidated data sources as well as normalized and standardized data processing methods. Standard methods were used to calculate city CO₂ emissions, including scope 1 and scope 2. Cities with higher CO₂ emissions are mostly in north, northeast, and eastern coastal areas. Cities with lower CO₂ emissions are in the western region. Cites with higher CO₂ emissions are clustered in the Jing-Jin-Ji Region (such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Tangshan), and the Yangtze River Delta region (such as Shanghai and Suzhou). The city per capita CO₂ emission is larger in the north than the south. There are obvious aggregations of cities with high per capita CO₂ emission in the north. Four cities among the top 10 per capita emissions (Erdos, Wuhai, Shizuishan, and Yinchuan) cluster in the main coal production areas of northern China. This indicates the significant impact of coal resources endowment on city industry and CO₂ emissions. The majority (77%) of cities have annual CO₂ emissions below 50 million tons. The mean annual emission, among all cities, is 37 million tons. Emissions from service-based cities, which include the smallest number of cities, are the highest. Industrial cities are the largest category and the emission distribution from these cities is close to the normal distribution. Emissions and degree of dispersion, in the other cities (excluding industrial cities and service-based cities), are in the lowest level. Per capita CO₂ emissions in these cities are generally below 20 t/person (89%) with a mean value of 11 t/person. The distribution interval of per capita CO₂ emission within industrial cities is the largest among the three city categories. This indicates greater differences among per capita CO₂ emissions of industrial cities. The distribution interval of per capita CO₂ emission of other cities is the lowest, indicating smaller differences of per capita CO₂ emissions among this city category. Three policy suggestions are proposed: first, city CO₂ emission inventory data in China should be increased, especially for prefecture level cities. Second, city responsibility for emission reduction, and partitioning the national goal should be established, using a bottom-up approach based on specific CO₂ emission levels and potential for emission reductions in each city. Third, comparative and benchmarking research on city CO₂ emissions should be conducted, and a Top Runner system of city CO₂ emission reduction should be established.     

含外来电的崇明县能源碳排放核算研究

能源消耗是中国最主要的碳排放源，而地方政府是碳管理的基层行政单元，因此，有效控制区域的能源碳排放是碳减排工作的重中之重。区域消耗的能源中，外来电是缓解当地用电压力的重要措施，但一般外来电引起的碳排放易被忽视。将外来电导致的碳排放纳入区域能源碳排放核算体系内，利用部门分析和范围分析法建立了包含外来电分析的能源碳排放核算系统，以上海市崇明县为例进行了应用。研究表明：（1）2000～2009年崇明的能源碳排放增长较快，由181万t增至477万t（CO2当量）；(2）碳排放总量的8212%来自3个部门：工业、建筑业和生活部门;(3）2009年，购买电力导致的间接碳排放达2316%，体现了实施碳管理时考虑外来电力的必要性     

中国2020年碳减排目标下若干关键经济指标研究

《国民经济和社会发展第十二个五年规划纲要》将能源消耗强度和CO2排放强度作为约束性指标。实现2020年单位GDP碳排放强度下降40-45%的自主减排目标是中国今后发展的战略性任务。"十一五"期间,中国以能源消费年均6.6%的增速支撑了国民经济年均11.2%的增长,累计节能量达到6.3亿t标煤,CO2减排量达到14.6亿t,为全球应对气候变化做出了积极贡献。但单位GDP的能耗强度和碳强度下降与温室气体排放总量的上升还将是中国当前和未来很长时期温室气体排放的主要特征。根据历史数据分析,GDP增长、经济结构、产业结构、能源结构等都会对中国的碳减排产生重要影响。GDP增速高必然呈现高能耗、高排放的特征。经济结构方面,影响能耗和碳排放的是GDP(最终需求)的组成变化,即消费、投资和净出口的变化。由于第二产业在国民经济中所占的较大比重以及重化工产业长期存在,除了继续依靠技术进步提高能源使用效率外,必须重视产业结构调整对降低碳排放强度的贡献。能源结构对节能和碳减排的影响集中体现在资源禀赋不平衡、供需分布不平衡、消费种类不平衡。文章提出实现碳减排目标,必须控制和达到以下关键指标:控制GDP增速在6-8%之间;调整出口结构,提升服务贸易比重至30%左右;提高第三产业比例至47%以上,控制高能耗工业比重在22%以下;提高非化石能源比重至15%。此外,实现碳减排目标还必须:充分认识碳减排对转方式、调结构的重要意义;切实加强对不同区域碳减排工作的分类指导;提前部署重大低碳技术和重点领域技术研发;大力倡导绿色低碳消费和生活方式等。研究表明,中国实现2020年CO2自主减排目标还需付出更大的努力。     

浙江省碳排放时空格局及影响因素研究

利用2005~2010年浙江省各县市区的社会经济数据和能耗数据,测算了各县市区的碳排放总量、人均碳排放量和地均碳排放量,采用空间自相关方法揭示了县域尺度下相邻县市区碳排放指标的空间关联性,运用地理加权回归模型定量描述了各县市区碳排放总量影响因素的空间异质性。研究结果表明:(1)研究期内,浙江省的碳排放总量从30 486万t增加到49 559万t。人均碳排放量和地均碳排放量也均呈增长趋势,且空间差异显著。(2)各县市区碳排放总量、人均碳排放量和地均碳排放量均存在较强的空间自相关性,总体上浙北浙东呈高高集聚,浙西南呈低低集聚。(3)人口和投资是影响碳排放总量的重要因素,且存在空间异质性。投资对浙西南碳排放的影响逐渐增大。     

中国农业源碳汇估算及其与农业经济发展的耦合分析

农业作为重要的产业部门,在满足人们基本的物质需求的同时具有重要的生态保障和碳汇功能,充分发掘农业的碳汇潜力对于农业绿色化发展和农民增收具有重要意义。本文量化测算了我国1993—2011年的农业源碳汇潜力,并构建农业源浄碳汇与农业经济发展的耦合模型,结果发现农业源碳汇量由1993年的52 318.70万t波动增加到2011年的66 073.77万t,年均增加1.38%,但是农业源的浄碳汇量却呈现波动递减趋势,由1993年的36 691.72万t减少到34 815.67万t,其中粮食作物的CO2吸收总量占据主要部分,经济作物CO2吸收量在农业总的CO2吸收量所占的比重虽小,但是增速较快,年均增幅达到4.15%;从影响因素来看,农业源碳汇和耕地面积关联度不大,农作物单位产量和农业源碳汇呈正相关;农业源浄碳汇与农业经济发展之间处于强负耦合状态,耦合状态不理想,农业产值与农业净碳汇关联度不强,这主要是由高投入、高消耗的农业生产方式引发农业碳排放增加和农业总产出效益提升等原因造成的。最后,本文针对性地提出促进我国农业减排增汇的对策建议:强化政府引导,从农业的规划、生产、消费等多领域进行引导;加大农业减排增汇的技术、资金和人力支持,为农业的减排增汇做好保障;通过林地增汇、农田增汇、草地增汇、综合增汇等多种手段,提升农地的碳汇能力;加快碳市场交易体系建设,以市场杠杆推进农业的减排增汇。     

华中地区种植业生产碳排放驱动因素分析

农业是温室气体排放的第二大人为因素源,探寻农业生产碳排影响因素,对实现农业节能减排有重要意义。以中国粮食主产区华中地区为背景,综合运用IPCC(2006)推荐的方法估算华中地区1994~2013年种植业生产的碳排放量,基于Kaya恒等式、灰色关联模型对华中地区种植业生产的碳排放驱动因素进行识别并探讨主要影响因素的贡献。结果显示:(1)华中地区1994~2013年种植业生产碳排放呈上升趋势,2013年达到了11 257.63万t CO2-eq。其中,河南省、湖北省、湖南省的种植业生产碳排放增幅分别为101.29%、24.88%、21.73%;(2)在过去的20 a中,种植业生产效率、种植业结构、农业劳动力规模对农业生产碳排放具有一定抑制作用,而农业经济发展则促进了种植业生产碳排,具有一定的推动作用;(3)近20 a的农业发展过程中,华中地区种植业生产碳排放最主要的贡献因子是种植业结构,其次是农业从业人口、种植业产值、人均农用物资消耗量。     

武汉城市圈土地利用碳排放效应分析及因素分解研究

土地低碳利用对减少土地利用碳排放，发展低碳经济，建设“两型社会”具有重要作用。以武汉城市圈为研究对象，估算了武汉城市圈1996～2010年土地利用碳排放量，分析了城市圈1996～2010年土地利用碳排放效应，利用LMDI模型对影响城市圈土地利用碳排放的因素进行了分解。研究表明：（1）1996～2010年武汉城市圈土地利用碳排放量由1996年的95282万t上升到2010年的4 55035万t，年均增长1182%，且上升幅度越来越大；（2）武汉城市圈居民点及工矿用地碳排放强度最大，耕地最小，不同土地利用方式碳排放强度及变化幅度存在一定差异；（3）城市圈各城市土地利用碳排放存在时空差异，时间上表现为碳排放增长速度和幅度的差异，空间上表现为各城市单元碳排放量的差异；（4）土地利用变化、经济发展水平提高、人口规模增加对城市圈土地利用碳排放存在正效应，能源效率提高和能源结构优化存在负效应     

中国城乡居民消费隐含的碳排放对比分析

可持续消费研究是产业生态学的重要内容.居民消费包括城镇居民消费和农村居民消费.本研究首先采用综合生命周期分析方法(Hybrid LCA)核算 1997、2002和2007三年的居民消费隐含的二氧化碳排放总量,发现2007年的碳排放量已经达到18.01亿吨.城镇居民消费已经成为居民消费的主要组成部分,到2007年城镇居民消费的碳排放量达到总量的76.44%.采用结构分解分析(SDA)方法对影响居民消费碳排放量变化的五项驱动因素进行分析,发现排放强度因子是"减缓"居民消费碳排放量增加的主要力量,而人均消费水平因子是推动碳排放量迅速增加的主要因素.同时,发现居民消费结构的变迁对碳排量的增加有一定促进作用.在未来应该通过持续降低能耗强度和加快研发低碳能源技术,来持续降低碳排放强度.另外,要充分挖掘居民生活方式和消费行为的减排潜力,引导消费结构,提倡适度消费,促进居民消费模式向低碳方向转变.     

三峡库区乔木林生物量和碳储量的估算

以三峡库区为研究地点,建立库区优势树种立木生物量模型,并测定乔木含碳系数,结合库区第7次和第8次森林资源连续清查数据,估算了整个三峡库区乔木林的生物量和碳储量。研究结果表明:(1)整个库区乔木林生物量和碳储量第7次调查为12 583×104t和6 471×104t,单位面积生物量75.70t/hm2,碳密度38.93t/hm2,第8次调查为14 253×104t和7 396×104t,单位面积生物量77.46t/hm2,碳密度40.20t/hm2。可见,这5a中,三峡库区生物量和碳储量都有所增加。(2)对于不同森林植被类型来说,松类的生物量和碳储量都显著高于其他类型,分别占三峡库区生物量和碳储量的40%和50%。(3)三峡库区森林植被生物量和碳储量随龄级增大先增大后减少,在中龄林时达到最大,比较两次调查的生物量和碳储量,森林植被主要以幼林龄和中龄林占优。(4)两次调查显示三峡库区森林植被生物量和碳储量主要分布在天然林中,对于碳汇起到主要作用,同时,人工林所占的比例有所提高,其碳汇能力也逐步提高。     

Energy and economic impacts of an international multi-regional carbon market

The establishment of a global multi-regional carbon market is considered to be a cost effective approach to facilitate global emission abatement and has been widely concerned.The ongoing planned linkage between the European Union’s carbon market and a new emission trading system in Australia in 2015 would be an important attempt to the practice of building up an international carbon market across different regions.To understand the abatement effect of such a global carbon market and to study its energy and economic impact on different market participants,this article adopts a global dynamic computable general equilibrium model with a detailed representation of the interactions between energy and economic systems.Our model includes 20 economic sectors and 19 regions,and describes in detail 17 energy technologies.Bundled with fossil fuel consumptions,the emission permits are considered to be essential inputs in each of the production and consumption activities in the economic system to simulate global carbon market policies.Carbon emission permits are endogenously set in the model,and can be traded between sectors and regions.Considering the current development of the global carbon market,this study takes 2020 as the study period.Four scenarios(reference scenario,independent carbon market scenario,Europe Union（EUh-Australia scenario,and China-EU-Australia scenario） are designed to evaluate the impact of the global carbon market involving China,the EU,and Australia.We find that the carbon price in the three countries varies a lot,from $32/tCO₂ in Australia,to $17.5/tCO₂ in the EU,and to $10/tCO₂ in China.Though the relative emission reduction（3%） in China is lower than that in the EU（9%） and Australia（18%）,the absolute emission reduction in China is far greater than that in the EU and Australia.When China is included in the carbon market,which already includes the EU and Australia,the prevailing global carbon price falls from $22 per ton carbon dioxide（CO₂） to $12/tCO₂,due to the relatively lower abatement cost in China.Seventy-one percent of the EU’s and eighty-one percent of Australia’s domestic reduction burden would be transferred to China,increasing 0.03%of the EU’s and 0.06%of Australia’s welfare.The emission constraint improves the energy efficiency of China’s industry sector by 1.4%,reduces coal consumption by3.3%,and increases clean energy by 3.5%.     

中国资源型城市CO_2排放比较研究

城市,特别是资源型城市,作为践行国家应对气候变化战略行动的重要主体,在绿色发展转型以及生态文明建设进程中正面临诸多现实挑战。资源型城市能否实现低碳发展转型,关乎我国在国际社会上承诺的中长期碳减排目标能否最终实现。为此,本研究基于中国高空间分辨率网格数据(CHRED),综合运用DPSIR(驱动力-压力-状态-影响-响应)、分类比较研究和情景分析等方法,对我国126个资源型城市的CO_2排放特征进行了系统分析,揭示了这些城市在能源结构和产业结构方面面临的诸多挑战,分析了这些城市未来碳排放趋势和碳减排潜力。研究结果显示:在正常达峰情景下,2030年126个资源型城市将以72.65亿t的CO_2排放量达峰,约占当年全国CO_2排放总量的60%;在提前达峰情景下,资源型城市将在2025年以53.78亿t的CO_2排放量达峰,约占当年全国CO_2排放总量的45%左右。最后,针对我国资源型城市的绿色低碳发展转型以及碳排放达峰管理提出几点建议:一是加强能源统计工作,促进资源型城市碳排放信息化管理平台建设;二是加强体制机制建设,健全资源型城市绿色低碳转型制度体系;三是改善以煤炭等化石燃料为主导的能源消费结构,提高清洁燃料利用的比重;四是加快绿色低碳技术发展,推动产业优化升级和碳排放强度明显下降。     

基于LMDI的珠三角能源碳足迹因素分解

如何控制区域碳排放增长是当前全球关注的热点。分解各因素对碳足迹的作用及影响权重,找出其主导因素,对推动碳减排开展有积极意义。本文结合IPCC碳排放因子,计算出1998-2009年珠江三角洲能源碳足迹,然后基于Kaya恒等式,运用LMDI对珠三角能源碳足迹进行因素分解。结果表明:珠三角能源碳足迹从1998年11272万吨上升到2009年的24905万吨,总体呈现快速增长趋势;经济规模的扩大是珠三角碳足迹快速增长的主要推动力,经济效应受经济规模、国家政策与国际金融环境影响;人口增长对珠三角碳足迹的增长也起到推动作用;能源效率的提高,是抑制珠三角碳足迹增长的最重要因素;研究期间珠三角能源结构变化不大,导致能源结构效应的作用表现并不显著;发展低碳产业、提高能源效率是抑制珠三角能源碳足迹快速增长的主要手段,适度控制经济及人口规模也是必须的。     

武汉城市圈碳排放的时空格局及影响因素分解研究

碳排放导致的全球气候变化已对人类社会与经济发展产生了深刻影响,构建一套适合“两型社会”的碳排放核算体系对于武汉城市圈寻求合理的碳减排途径具有重要的意义。以IPCC碳排放清单为依据,从4个一级项目27个二级项目系统地计算了武汉市城市圈2001～2009年各城市的碳排放总量和碳排放强度。并进一步运用迪氏对数指标分解模型（Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Method,LMDI）定量分解了影响武汉城市圈碳排放的影响因素。研究发现：废弃物处理是武汉城市圈碳排量最多的项目,碳排放主要集中在武汉、黄石、孝感和黄冈等市,城市圈碳排放总量、碳排放地理强度和经济强度的年均递增(减)率分别为186%、022%和606%。能源结构、能源效率是抑制碳排放的主要因素,经济水平是碳排放增长的主要原因,人口效应对碳排放的影响不大,其累计贡献值分别为-22 879.85万t、-5 173.10万t、14 258.36万t和58231万t。为降低碳排放,城市圈需在推进废弃物处理技术、新能源开发、产业升级和构建低碳补偿等方面做出改进     

The accounting method and application of CO2 emissions responsibility by the electricity sector at the provincial level in China

When accounting the CO₂ emissions responsibility of the electricity sector at the provincial level in China,it is of great significance to consider the scope of both producers’ and the consumers’ responsibility,since this will promote fairness in defining emission responsibility and enhance cooperation in emission reduction among provinces.This paper proposes a new method for calculating carbon emissions from the power sector at the provincial level based on the shared responsibility principle and taking into account interregional power exchange.This method can not only be used to account the emission responsibility shared by both the electricity production side and the consumption side,but it is also applicable for calculating the corresponding emission responsibility undertaken by those provinces with net electricity outflow and inflow.This method has been used to account for the carbon emissions responsibilities of the power sector at the provincial level in China since 2011.The empirical results indicate that compared with the production-based accounting method,the carbon emissions of major power-generation provinces in China calculated by the shared responsibility accounting method are reduced by at least 10%,but those of other power-consumption provinces are increased by 20% or more.Secondly,based on the principle of shared responsibility accounting,Inner Mongolia has the highest carbon emissions from the power sector while Hainan has the lowest.Thirdly,four provinces,including Inner Mongolia,Shanxi,Hubei and Anhui,have the highest carbon emissions from net electricity outflow- 14 million t in 2011,accounting for 74.42% of total carbon emissions from net electricity outflow in China.Six provinces,including Hebei,Beijing,Guangdong,Liaoning,Shandong,and Jiangsu,have the highest carbon emissions from net electricity inflow- 11 million t in 2011,accounting for 71.44% of total carbon emissions from net electricity inflow in China.Lastly,this paper has estimated the emission factors of electricity consumption at the provincial level,which can avoid repeated calculations when accounting the emission responsibility of power consumption terminals（e.g.construction,automobile manufacturing and other industries）.In addition,these emission factors can also be used to account the emission responsibilities of provincial power grids.     

负外部成本内部化约束下的煤炭开采税费水平研究

煤炭开采中面临严重的代际负外部性和生态环境负外部性问题,分别运用使用者成本法和直接市场法测算了煤炭资源开采中的代际负外部成本和生态环境负外部成本。根据两个负外部成本充分内部化的要求,提出煤炭开采中税费水平的调整目标。以2008年为例,煤炭开采中资源税的征收标准应由目前的从量0.3-5元/t(约从价1%)提至从价10%;开采吨煤应交的生态环境费用标准应由目前的24元/t提至64.23-68.47元/t,即每吨提高40.23-44.47元。综合资源税和生态环境费用的提高幅度,煤炭开采活动中的税费水平应提高约21-22个百分点;通过比较现行税费制度下煤炭开采企业实交的资源税费、生态环境税费总额与企业应交的资源、生态环境费用总额之间的差距,指出目前我国政府对开采企业隐性税费补贴的规模水平,根据价差法计算得出取消此部分税费补贴将可以削减3 653.69万tCO2排放。     

中国农业温室气体排放:现状及挑战

该文从农业生产过程和化肥、能源等投入方面计算了中国农业温室气体排放.2009年,中国农业总计排放温室气体158 557.3万t CO2当量,比1980年增长52.03％,年均增长1.46％.其中,CH4占总排放的25％,N2O占总排放的52％,CO2占总排放的23％.按来源分析,在2009年排放的温室气体中,水稻种植排放14 264.45万t,占9％;畜牧生产排放42 709.94万t,占26.94％；土壤排放47 457.81万t,占29.93％；化肥、能源、农药、农膜等投入引起的排放54 125.11万t,占34.14％.2009年农业GDP排放的温室气体为2.98 kg/元,粮食排放的温室气体为1.5 kg/kg.在2008年,牛肉排放的温室气体为28.54 kg/kg,羊肉为15.5 kg/kg,猪肉为1.49kg/kg,禽肉为0.54 kg/kg,牛奶为1.04 kg/kg,禽蛋为0.83 kg/kg.由于技术进步和生产效率提高,单位粮食、肉类和牛奶排放的温室气体都有较大幅度降低.对于种植单季粮食的土地,CO2交易价格为80元/t将使23.27％的耕地退出粮食生产；当CO2交易价格为100元/t时,这一比例高达63.31％.对于种植双季粮食的土地,CO2交易价格为130- 140元/t时,将有50％的耕地退出粮食生产.由于中国粮食生产利润率过低,CO2较低的价格使严重影响粮食生产面积和产量.     

Contribution of the sugar cane industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector: the case of Mauritius

The aim of this paper was to present the contribution of the sugar cane industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector. Mauritius is taken as a case study. Sugar cane was introduced in Mauritius during the seventeenth century and production of sugar started around 60 years later. Since then, the cane industry has been one of the economic pillars of the country. Bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane, is used as fuel in cogeneration power plants to produce process heat and electricity. This process heat and the generated electricity are used by an annexed sugar mills for the production of sugar, while the remaining electricity is exported to the national grid. In fact, Mauritius is a pioneer in the field of bagasse-based cogeneration power plant; the first bagasse-based cogeneration power plant that was commissioned in the world was in Mauritius in 1957. The contribution of the cane industry in the electricity sector has been vital for the economic development of Mauritius and also in terms of mitigating carbon dioxide emissions by displacing fossil fuels in electricity generation, as bagasse is classified as a renewable source. Data obtained from Statistics Mauritius on electricity production for the past 45 years were analysed, and carbon dioxide emissions were calculated based on international norms. It is estimated that savings on heavy fuel oil importation were by 1.5 million tons of oil—representing a value of 2.9 billion dollars—thus avoiding 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This figure can be further increased if molasses, a by-product of sugar cane juice, is used to produce bio-ethanol to be used as fuel in vehicles.