Could environmental regulation effectively boost the synergy level of carbon emission reduction and air pollutants control? Evidence from industrial sector in China

Abstract

In response to the pressure of combating climate change and enhancing air quality, China has tightened environmental regulations. In China, reducing carbon emissions and air pollutants together has become a critical target for environmental protection. However, no literature explores the impact of environmental regulation on the synergy level of reducing CO2 and air pollutants in the industrial sector. Therefore, this study explores whether environmental regulation could effectively boost the synergy level of carbon emission reduction and air pollutants control in China's industrial sector. We first construct an evaluation indicator system for synergistic emission reduction of CO2 and air pollutants (SO2, NOx, PM), then employs the coupled coordination model to evaluate the synergy level of emission reduction. Furthermore, we explore the impact pathway of environmental regulation on the synergy level of emission reduction. The results indicate that: (1) On the whole, the synergy level shows a slow upward trend, but remains insufficient from 2011 to 2020. (2) Overall, environmental regulation significantly boosts the synergy level of carbon emission reduction and air pollutants control. Regarding the impact pathway, industrial structure has a completely promoting effect, while technical progress exerts a suppressing effect. (3) In regions with higher economic development, environmental regulation has a greater positive influence on synergy level, and the suppressing effect of technical progress is weaker than in less developed regions. These findings could provide helpful references for policy making on synergistic emission reduction of industrial CO2 and air pollutants in China.