Can dual pilot policy of innovative city and low carbon city promote green lifestyle transformation of residents？

Abstract

Green lifestyle transformation is the key to a thoroughgoing shift to sustainability in terms of economic and social development and an essential part of urban carbon emission reduction to achieve carbon peaking. To address climate change and achieve the high-quality effect, the Chinese government started pilot projects in 2008 and 2010, respectively, and has been expanding their scope, so it is crucial to accurately assess the carbon reduction effects of urban pilot projects on residents' lives and the synergy between various different policies. Based on panel data of 285 cities in China from 2009 to 2019, the induced effects of dual pilot policies for low-carbon cities and innovative cities (dual pilot policies) on residents' low-carbon choices are examined with the help of double-difference method, and their mechanisms of action and heterogeneity are further analyzed. The results show that: ①the dual pilot policy is more effective in promoting green lifestyle changes among residents than non dual pilot cities, and this such effect is positively correlated with time; ② the dual pilot policy has a stronger role in promoting green lifestyles than the single pilot innovative city and the single pilot low-carbon city, and the two policies have synergistic effects. In terms of the sequence of pilot projects, the quality of green lifestyles of city residents is significantly improved by implementing the low-carbon pilot first and then the innovative city pilot policy. ③As for the influence mechanism, the dual pilot policy mainly encourages residents to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle by optimizing the energy consumption structure rather than through the intermediary mechanism of expanding the supply of environmentally friendly goods; ④The impact of the dual pilot policy on residents' green lifestyles is regionally heterogeneous, with the promotion effect being more pronounced in eastern and central cities and heating cities in the north. To stimulate low-carbon-oriented urban green development practices, we should summarize and promote pilot experiences, adopt differentiated strategies according to local conditions, pay attention to optimizing residents' energy consumption structure, and strengthen regional green innovation cooperation to encourage the coordination and fusion of urban “green” and “innovation".