A supply chain allocation method for environmental responsibility based on fossil energy as the anchor for carbon responsibility

This study proposes the concept of using fossil fuel energy (or fossil-energy-based sources) as the anchor for determining carbon responsibility, which can more directly and adequately quantify and reflect the environmental responsibility of each stage of the energy economic system, and further advance the research on the extension of responsibility allocation to the front and back ends. Two key parameters, the primary energy consumption responsibility conversion factor and the value added allocation factor, were introduced to couple both the energy and the economic systems around carbon responsibility allocation, and to complete the tracking and calculation of primary energy consumption responsibility in the whole energy supply chain. Relevant calculation data were used to map responsibility Sankey diagram. Based on these parameters, we selected the Chinese energy supply system from 2002 to 2020 as a case practice, calculated the allocation profile of primary energy consumption responsibility in energy supply chain, and analyzed the evolution and allocation of primary energy consumption responsibility in the economic/residential sectors, final goods and end-use categories. The results show that energy-intensive industries (e.g., smelting and pressing of metals, manufacture of chemicals) and energy-intensive products (e.g., construction goods) are still important carrier sectors and carrier goods for primary energy consumption responsibility in China. Gross fixed capital formation is still the largest expenditure category for primary energy consumption responsibility. However, with the development and transformation of the national economy, the distribution of primary energy consumption responsibilities among the various stages of the energy system has subtly changed.