The Impact of Industrial Added Value on Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: A Case Study of China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. It is very difficult to read due to the large number of acronyms in the text.

2. The enormous number of acronyms does not allow a good understanding of the results of the work. Those acronyms were just explained at the beginning of the article.

3. The paper appears to be a report of some kind of research, not a scientific article.

4. The bibliographical references contain ONLY works of national (Chinese) authors.

5. Some articles published in refereed journals do not have a DOI and it is difficult to consult them.

6. In "Methodology" there are several sentences that are repeated (lines 130-131, 141-143, and 156-158).

Author Response

Responds to the reviewer#1’s comments:

1.Response to comment: It is very difficult to read due to the large number of acronyms in the text.

Response: We thank reviewer #1 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have carefully revised the presentation of the paper to reduce the use of abbreviations

 

2.Response to comment: The enormous number of acronyms does not allow a good understanding of the results of the work. Those acronyms were just explained at the beginning of the article.

Response: We thank reviewer #1 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, We have reduced the use of abbreviations for clearer expression

 

3.Response to comment: The paper appears to be a report of some kind of research, not a scientific article.

Response: We thank reviewer #1 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we reorganized the content of the paper

 

4.Response to comment: The bibliographical references contain ONLY works of national (Chinese) authors.

Response: We thank reviewer #1 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we rescreened the references.

 

5.Response to comment: Some articles published in refereed journals do not have a DOI and it is difficult to consult them.

Response: We thank reviewer #1 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have modified the citation format of the references.

 

6.Response to comment: In "Methodology" there are several sentences that are repeated (lines 130-131, 141-143, and 156-158).

Response: We thank reviewer #1 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have corrected the repeated statements.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. What exactly is the value of China's energy consumption and industrial carbon emissions from 2010-2020 should be explained in words and graphs.

2. What the carbon emissions profile for each industrial sub-sector is not reflected in this paper.

3. The carbon emissions of various industrial sub-sectors should be analyzed in detail.

4. How does the final policy recommendation relate to the findings of this paper? This policy recommendation looks like it could be applied to any piece of research on industrial carbon emissions.

5. The last paragraph of the Introduction describes the research content of this paper in a way that cannot be described in subsections.

Other Comments: 1. What’s the value of China's energy consumption and industrial carbon emissions from 2010-2020? It is recommended that text and graphical descriptions should be added, otherwise they do not reflect the reality of the analyzed data. 2. What’s the carbon emissions of each industrial sub-sector? It is suggested that the carbon emissions of various industrial sub-sectors should be analyzed in detail. 3. How does the final policy recommendation relate to the findings of this paper? This policy recommendation looks like it could be applied to any research about industrial carbon emissions. 4. What is the significance of this paper in examining the relationship between industrial value added and carbon emissions? Please state it clearly in the discussion and conclusion section. 5. What is the final research content of the study in the introduction? It is recommended not to replace the research content of the study with the main points of the individual chapters. Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Responds to the reviewer#2’s comments:

1.Response to comment: What exactly is the value of China's energy consumption and industrial carbon emissions from 2010-2020 should be explained in words and graphs.

Response: We thank reviewer #2 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added Figure 1 and representations to illustrate China's energy consumption and industrial carbon emissions from 2010 to 2020.

 

2.Response to comment: What the carbon emissions profile for each industrial sub-sector is not reflected in this paper.

Response: We thank reviewer #2 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added Figure 2 and representations to illustrate the carbon emissions profile for each industrial sub-sector.

 

3.Response to comment: The carbon emissions of various industrial sub-sectors should be analyzed in detail.

Response: We thank reviewer #2 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added Figure 2 and representations to illustrate the carbon emissions profile for each industrial sub-sector.

 

4.Response to comment: How does the final policy recommendation relate to the findings of this paper? This policy recommendation looks like it could be applied to any piece of research on industrial carbon emissions.

Response: We thank reviewer #2 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have modified the conclusions and policy suggestions.

 

5.Response to comment: The last paragraph of the Introduction describes the research content of this paper in a way that cannot be described in subsections.

Response: We thank reviewer #2 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have modified the last paragraph of the Introduction.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Reference numbering is not uniform. It starts with 46 in the manuscript. Correct it. Arrange and indicate citations in proper order.

Revise the manuscript for minor English language corrections

List the objectives of the study as bullet points at the end of introduction section

13^th five year plan is for 2020 or 2030, Check and correct it throughout the manuscript

Reference is needed for equation 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

Give values for energy material data, E in eqn. 12, 13 in Table 1

Give a flow chart for the optimization algorithm used in this study

Fig 2, Fig 3, axis labels are missing include them.

Policy suggestions is for the year 2020. Check it ? 2020 is already over.

Policy suggestions can be given as bullet points

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor corrections needed in typo mistakes and sentence formation

Author Response

Responds to the reviewer#3’s comments:

1.Response to comment: Reference numbering is not uniform. It starts with 46 in the manuscript. Correct it. Arrange and indicate citations in proper order.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have modified all the References.

 

2.Response to comment: Revise the manuscript for minor English language corrections.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we carefully revised and checked the English expression.

 

3.Response to comment: List the objectives of the study as bullet points at the end of introduction section.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have modified the last paragraph of the Introduction.

 

4.Response to comment: 13th five year plan is for 2020 or 2030, Check and correct it throughout the manuscript

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have checked and corrected all the errors.

 

5.Response to comment: Reference is needed for equation 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have revised and added references.

 

6.Response to comment: Give values for energy material data, E in eqn. 12, 13 in Table 1

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added the energy material data.

 

7.Response to comment: Give a flow chart for the optimization algorithm used in this study.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added the description of the optimization algorithm used in this paper.

 

8.Response to comment: Fig 2, Fig 3, axis labels are missing include them.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added the axis labels.

 

9.Response to comment: Policy suggestions is for the year 2020. Check it ? 2020 is already over.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have corrected the misrepresentation.

 

10.Response to comment: Policy suggestions can be given as bullet points.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have rewrote the policy recommendations.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript is very interesting and actual. It is a researched actual issue. The content can be improved in segment theoretical background with the description of previous research. All cited references are relevant to the research. The research design, hypotheses, and methods are clearly stated. The arguments are balanced. The results are clearly presented. The conclusions are supported by the research presented.

The manuscript considers the original and relevant issues. Authors should improve the theoretical background with previous researches about the topic. Also, authors should add specific gap in the field research. The references are appropriate and adequately citied. The tables and figures are adequate and correct.

Author Response

Responds to the reviewer#4’s comments:

Response to comment: The manuscript is very interesting and actual. It is a researched actual issue. The content can be improved in segment theoretical background with the description of previous research. All cited references are relevant to the research. The research design, hypotheses, and methods are clearly stated. The arguments are balanced. The results are clearly presented. The conclusions are supported by the research presented.

The manuscript considers the original and relevant issues. Authors should improve the theoretical background with previous researches about the topic. Also, authors should add specific gap in the field research. The references are appropriate and adequately citied. The tables and figures are adequate and correct.

Response: We thank reviewer #4 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have revised and refined the paper carefully.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript is well organized and the summary is well supported by the results. Overall, I suggest it can be accepted for publication in this journal current form.

Author Response

Responds to the reviewer#2’s comments:

Response to comment: The manuscript is well organized and the summary is well supported by the results. Overall, I suggest it can be accepted for publication in this journal current form..

Response: We thank for  reviewer #2 ’ comments.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

List the objectives of the study as bullet points at the end of introduction section.

13th five year plan is for 2020 or 2030, Check and correct it throughout the manuscript

 Reference is needed for equation 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

Give values for energy material data, E in eqn. 12, 13 in Table 1

Fig 2, axis labels are missing include them.

These comments are not addressed, address them

 

Author Response

Responds to the reviewer#3’s comments:

1.Response to comment: List the objectives of the study as bullet points at the end of introduction section.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added the objectives of the study as bullet points. (see the second paragraph from bottom)

2.Response to comment: 13th five year plan is for 2020 or 2030, Check and correct it throughout the manuscript.

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. The 13th Five-Year Plan runs from 2016 to 2020. In the revised version, we have checked and corrected the full manuscript.

3.Response to comment: Reference is needed for equation 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added the references (see References [24-26])

4.Response to comment: Give values for energy material data, E in eqn. 12, 13 in Table 1

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added the energy material data in Table 1. (see the last column in Table 1).

5.Response to comment: Fig 2, axis labels are missing include them..

Response: We thank reviewer #3 for pointing out this point. In the revised version, we have added the axis labels. (see Figure 2)

Round 3

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

My Comments have been addressed