Impact Factors and Structural Pathways of Carbon Emissions in the Power Sector of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region Using MRIO Analysis

The accelerated growth of the global economy has given rise to a multitude of environmental concerns that demand immediate attention. At this juncture, the total global carbon emissions are exhibiting a gradual increase. China, the United States, India, Russia, and Japan represent the top five countries in terms of global carbon emissions, collectively accounting for approximately 60% of the global total. Of these, China’s carbon emissions are the highest in the world, representing over 30% of the global total. As urbanization accelerates, the carbon emissions from urban agglomerations constitute a substantial share of the nation’s total emissions, rendering the carbon emissions of urban clusters a critical issue. In the context of China’s urban agglomerations, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, due to factors such as industrial structure, accounts for a relatively high proportion of carbon emissions, approximately 11% of the national total. The future trajectory of carbon emissions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region will significantly impact the high-quality development of the entire urban cluster. Consequently, research on carbon emissions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region is of vital importance. This paper takes the carbon emissions of the power industry in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region as the research subject, analyzes its carbon emissions status, and builds a multi-regional input–output model for the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region based on the input–output tables and carbon emissions data of each province. This study explores the key influencing factors of carbon emissions from the power industry in this region from 2012 to 2017 and analyzes the carbon emissions transfer and structural evolution from the perspective of the region and the industry to clarify the carbon reduction responsibilities of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and provide references and recommendations for the formulation of regional collaborative emission reduction policies. The results show that the direct carbon emissions from the power industry in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region account for a higher proportion compared to the indirect carbon emissions it generates by driving other industries. Industries with relatively high indirect carbon emissions in the key path include coal mining and selection, equipment manufacturing, transportation, services, etc. The capital input process from Tianjin and Hebei to Beijing is accompanied by a relatively high carbon transfer. Promoting the widespread adoption of carbon emission reduction technologies will have an effective suppressive effect on carbon emissions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, especially in Hebei; Beijing and Tianjin should pay attention to the stimulating effect of increased final demand on carbon emissions; the transfer of carbon emissions between regions and industries shows a downward trend as the power sector undergoes transformation.