Decoupling Efforts and Stability of Carbon Emissions in the Logistics Industry: A Literature Review based on the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Chuanxu Li

doi:10.62051/ijsspa.v10n6.11

Authors

Chuanxu Li School of Economics and Management, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62051/ijsspa.v10n6.11

Keywords:

Logistics Industry, Carbon Emissions, Decoupling Effort, Decoupling Stability, Yangtze River Economic Belt, Tapio model, LMDI

Abstract

The logistics industry is an important support system for regional production, circulation and consumption, but it is also a major source of energy use and carbon emissions. Under China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, the relationship between logistics growth and carbon emissions has become a key topic in regional green development research. This paper reviews studies on logistics carbon accounting, carbon-emission drivers, decoupling models, decoupling efforts and decoupling stability, with special attention to evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The literature shows that existing research has formed a relatively mature methodological basis, including IPCC accounting, LMDI decomposition and the Tapio elasticity model. However, many studies still focus mainly on identifying decoupling states, while the quality of decoupling, the actual emission-reduction efforts behind decoupling, and the long-term stability of decoupling have not been fully examined. Future research should build an integrated framework that combines carbon accounting, driver decomposition, decoupling-state identification, decoupling-effort evaluation and stability testing. Such a framework can help distinguish real low-carbon transformation from short-term statistical decoupling and provide more practical policy implications for the green transition of logistics in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

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