A systematic assessment of low-carbon energy consumption by an integrated approach in rural China

Many studies highlight the challenges of applying urban-based low-carbon assessment frameworks to rural energy consumption, emphasizing the need for a method suitable for rural conditions. This study aims to develop a systematic methodology suitable for low-carbon assessment of rural energy consumption in China. The proposed methodology was tested on 24,116 rural households across 124 villages in central and western China. Results indicate that it successfully overcomes limitations in current assessments, namely limited relevance, poor applicability, and inadequate policy alignment. The methodology is capable of adapting to the lack of basic data on rural energy and the inadequate statistics on rural energy consumption. The findings of this assessment reveal that energy structure (i.e., energy sources) is the main contributor to rural carbon emissions, followed by household economic conditions, rural house maintenance structure, and the awareness levels of farmers. These factors have a dramatic impact on the transition to low-carbon energy consumption in rural China.