Impact of Environmental Regulations on High-Quality Development of Energy: From the Perspective of Provincial Differences

Abstract

Environmental regulation plays an important role in the green development of energy, and there are different classifications of environmental regulations in academic circles. This paper attempts to divide environmental regulation into “pure” formal environmental regulations and informal environmental regulations. By selecting the official statistical data samples of 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China from 2005 to 2020, and by referring to the Malmquist productivity index method and the mediation effect model, we explore pure environmental regulations. By analyzing the influence mechanism of “pure” formal environmental regulations and informal environmental regulation on energy green development, it is concluded that: (1) Informal environmental regulations have direct and indirect roles in promoting the energy green development index. (2) There is a “U-shaped” relationship between “pure” formal environmental regulations and green energy development. Based on the above conclusions, relevant suggestions are put forward. At the same time, through this division of environmental regulations, on the one hand, it provides a basis for the government to accurately formulate environmental policies, and on the other hand, it provides strong support for the government to scientifically implement environmental policies.