4. Conclusions and Policy Implications
Concurrently promoting industrial economic development and realizing carbon emission reduction goals are vital for building a sustainable economy for China. Both factors serve as a solid foundation for industrial carbon emission transfer structures. Based on this, this study analyzed the total amount and dynamic change of China's industrial carbon emission transfers, explored the economic effect of industrial carbon emission transfers, and proposed strategies for optimizing carbon emission transfer structures. Three main conclusions and policy implications emerge from this work. (1) Carbon emission imports and exports already occur between different Chinese industries, with positive average annual growth rates and typical industrial characteristics. Specifically, traditional energy industries mainly have high CEI, while processing and manufacturing industries mainly have high CEE. Most light industries have relatively low levels of both carbon emission imports and exports. Therefore, government should not isolate industries when setting carbon emission reduction targets, and should consider carbon emission transfers (import and export) and their effects. Different characteristics of interindustrial carbon emission transfers also need to be considered, with the government implementing targeted and specific policies and measures.