Has the level of green finance development improved carbon emission performance?—Empirical evidence from China

Abstract

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of green finance and carbon emission performance, as well as the mechanisms, using data from 30 Chinese provinces for the time frame of 2008–2018. The findings show that (1) the level of green finance development significantly enhances carbon emission performance, where industrial structure, foreign direct investment, and population density are all important control variables affecting carbon emission performance. (2) Energy consumption structure, green industry, and green patented technology are all mediating variables for the level of green finance development to enhance carbon emission performance. Meanwhile, the effects of green finance development on carbon emission performance are nonlinear under varying economic growth, industrial structure, and urbanization levels. (3) After addressing the spatial autocorrelation of carbon emission performance, the level of green finance development still significantly enhances carbon emission performance. (4) The level of green finance development in China's eastern provinces, pilot provinces of carbon emission trading, and provinces with abundant coal resources can more significantly enhance carbon emission performance. On this basis, this paper makes specific suggestions for green finance to enhance carbon emission performance.