脱贫山区农户生计转型的低碳效应研究：以陇南山区为例

A study on low carbon effect of livelihood transition of farmers in the mountainous area out of poverty: taking Longnan mountainous area as an example

关键词:  农村居民  生计转型  碳排放  陇南山区

Key words:  rural residents  livelihood transformation  carbon emission  Longnan mountainous area

摘要:

明确脱贫山区农户生计转型的低碳效应对实现乡村绿色发展、建设低碳乡村至关重要。基于陇南山区农户的入户调查数据，利用碳排放清单法分析了2014—2019年农户的生计转型路径及其低碳效应。结果表明：（1）陇南山区农户的生计策略分为传统农业主导型、经济作物主导型、务工主导型、经商主导型和综合型；2014—2019年有26.97%的农户生计策略发生了转型，最主要的转型方式是由综合型转向务工主导型；（2）因人均生活碳排放增加量高于人均生产碳排放减少量，陇南山区农户的人均家庭碳排放呈增加趋势；（3）农户生计转型路径中，由经济作物主导型转向传统农业主导型的人均家庭碳排放降幅最大，为41.45%，综合型转向传统农业主导型的增幅最大，达208.86%。

Abstract:

Background, aim, and scope Clarifying the low-carbon effect of the livelihood transition of farm households in poverty-stricken mountainous areas is crucial to realising the green transformation of villages and building low-carbon villages in China. However, most previous studies have focused on carbon emissions from households at the national or regional level. Few studies have examined the impact of changes in household livelihood strategies on carbon emissions. This study analysed the path of farmers’ livelihood transformations and carbon emissions from 2014 to 2019, to clarify the impact of the transformations on carbon emissions. The data from poverty-stricken mountainous areas could provide a reference for rural low-carbon initiatives. Materials and methods Survey data on farmers’ livelihood capital and main livelihood activities in the Longnan mountainous area from 2014 to 2019 enabled classification of the livelihood strategies. Using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change carbon emission inventory method, the carbon emissions generated by the energy consumption associated with production and living materials of various farmers were calculated and the influence of livelihood transformations of farmers on household carbon emissions was analysed. Results (1) The livelihood strategies of farmers could be classified as traditional agriculture-, cash crop-, workers oriented-, business oriented-, and comprehensive- strategies because of their different income structures. (2) From 2014 to 2019, 73.03% of the livelihood strategies of farmers remained unchanged. Among the farmers whose livelihood strategies changed, the proportion who changed from comprehensive to work-oriented was the highest (10.67%). (3) The per capita household carbon emissions of the studied farmers has increased because the increases in per capita living carbon emissions exceed the decreased production of carbon emissions. (4) Among the farmers whose livelihood strategies changed, 10.76% of farmers’ per capita carbon emissions declined. The decline from cash crop- to traditional agriculture oriented farmers was greatest (41.45%). The per capita carbon emissions of the remaining 89.24% of farmers increased, with the largest increase (208.86%) from comprehensive- to traditional agriculture farmers. Finally, among farmers whose livelihood strategies did not change, all of farmers’ per capita carbon emissions increased. Discussion The changed carbon emissions of Longnan mountain farming households display different characteristics concerning the transitions in livelihood strategy. With the acceleration of urbanisation, the construction, manufacturing, and service industries have attracted a large amount of surplus rural labour. The livelihood strategies of farmers in the Longnan mountainous areas have rapidly become work-oriented. The increase in work-oriented farmers and decrease in traditional agriculture and cash crop-oriented farmers have reduced the crops areas, livestock and poultry breeding, and reduced the per capita production carbon emissions of farmers to a certain extent. At the same time, the livelihood transition paths of farm households have had a greater impact on household carbon emissions. Carbon emissions have increased in most of the households that have shifted livelihood strategies, because of an increased demand for subsistence consumption. In addition, farmers have increased their use of direct energy sources, such as coal, petrol, to increase per capita household carbon emissions to some extent. Conclusions From 2014 to 2019, the livelihood strategies of 26.97% of farmers in the Longnan mountainous area changed. The most important mode of transformation was comprehensive to work-oriented. Household carbon emissions have increased as per capita living carbon emissions have increased. This emission increase has exceeded the decrease in production-related carbon emissions. Among the livelihood transition paths of farm households, per capita household carbon emissions have displayed a decreasing trend in farmer households that have experienced from traditional agriculture- to workers oriented-, from cash crop- to traditional agriculture- and from business oriented- to comprehensive- transitions. Among farm households that did not experience a change in livelihood strategies, all of farmers’ per capita carbon emissions increased. Recommendations and perspectives With the goal of reducing household carbon emissions of farmers in Longnan mountainous area, in terms of carbon emissions from production, the government should encourage farmers to adjust their agricultural production, operation, and management modes, and guide them in the use of energy-saving and emission-reducing agricultural production technologies. Increased efforts should be taken to promote “green awareness” in rural areas, encourage farmers to participate in low-carbon activities, and promote the development of a lifestyle that inculcates habits of low-carbon consumption. Concurrently, the rate of utilisation of clean energy in rural areas should be increased, and farmers should be encouraged to accept clean energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, to reduce the carbon emissions associated with daily life.