Do energy technology innovations contribute to CO2 emissions abatement? A spatial perspective

Abstract

With growing concerns about global warming, energy technology innovation has attracted attention from scholars. Many studies have explored the relationship between energy technology innovations and energy consumption, while the influence of energy technology innovation on carbon emissions (CEs) has not received enough attention. Utilizing the spatial econometric model, this study aims to examine whether energy technology innovations are beneficial for CO2 emissions abatement in China. The results indicate that, first, renewable energy technology innovation facilitates CO2 abatement, while fossil energy technology innovation is ineffective in reducing CEs. Second, the influences of energy technology innovations on CEs are trans-regional. Third, economic growth would agglomerate CEs from low-growth province to neighboring high-growth provinces; mandatory environmental regulation in China would transfer CEs from provinces with strict regulations to neighboring provinces with loose regulation. Based on these findings, a series of policy recommendations are put forward to tackle China's CEs. One possible innovation is that this study considers geographic location when investigating how energy technology innovations affect CEs.