Agglomeration effect of CO2 emissions and emissions reduction effect of technology: A spatial econometric perspective based on China's province-level data

Abstract

To clarify the spatial characteristics of CO2 emissions, economic externalities of spatial units are transplanted into CO2 emissions research. Furthermore, to identify emissions reduction pathways, spatial econometric models are constructed based on the patent data about energy conservation and emissions reduction. The key results are: (1) The kernel density plot of China's CO2 emissions shows an obvious right-averse state, and the peak is getting lower. Therefore, we can conclude that CO2 emissions in China are increasing, and polarisation of CO2 emissions is serious; (2) Due to the similarity and connectivity exist in spatial units, China's CO2 emissions have shown a stable spatial agglomeration effect from global and local perspectives; (3) Based on adjacent, geographic, and economic distance matrices, energy technological progress has played a positive emissions reduction role on China's CO2 emissions from the perspective patent data about energy saving and emissions reduction. Finally, on the basis of the above conclusions, some policy implications have been proposed accordingly.