An embodied energy perspective of urban economy: A three-scale analysis for Beijing 2002–2012 with headquarter effect

As the typical characteristic of globalization, large-scale agglomeration of headquarters in urban economies exerts extensive cross-border trade links, and inevitably generates energy use outside their boundary. Therefore, studies about urban economies' energy use profiles should pay special attention to the tremendous energy transfers embodied in their trade connections along the whole supply chain. In this regard, a three-scale input-output model which distinguishes local, domestic and foreign activities is devised to reflect cross border embodied energy perspective for urban economies, with an intensive case study for Beijing during 2002–2012. The results show that domestic imports dominate Beijing's total embodied energy use, while local energy exploitation accounts for less than one-tenths of the final use. Regarding to energy use embodied in trade, headquarter effect contributes significantly to the rapid growth of embodied energy inflows and outflows. Embodied energy transfers induced by headquarter effect almost doubled in the case period. Different industries show distinct embodied energy redistribution evolution characteristics. Moreover, the complete source-to-sink budget is constructed, implying that coal use still dominates Beijing's total embodied energy inputs. Analysis in this study highlights the importance to consider the impacts of headquarter effect on Beijing's embodied energy use and redistribution pattern, pointing the potential room for policy implications aimed to realize collective and inclusive governance of global energy supply chain.