https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3188-3697
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ABSTRACT
Human activities interfere with natural Phosphorus (P) cycles by introducing increased levels of P emissions to air, land, and water. A supply-side analysis of P supply chains and associated P emissions can provide insights into underlying economic activities and transitions responsible for human-induced P emissions. Taking the mainland China as the case, this study constructs time-series physical input-output tables to describe P supply chains during 1949–2012. Subsequently, it identifies critical products and influencing factors of P supply chains enabling P emissions to the environment (including air, land, and water) from the supply perspective. The results show that phosphate rock, an important initial supplier of P from natural environment to China’s P supply chain, was responsible for 86% of P emissions in 2012. Moreover, food crops and livestock are important initial suppliers of P from soil to China’s P supply chain, through cultivation and pasturing, respectively. From 1949 to 2012, the change in primary input level was the largest driver of P emission increments, followed by changes in population, emission intensity, and primary input structure. On the contrary, changes in production structure reduced P emissions. These findings could support supply-side policy decisions on P emission control.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2022.2107578