Impact of industrialization on China’s regional energy security in the New Era

Abstract

This research is one of the very few studies that seeks to examine the association between China’s industrial development and its energy sustainability. It does so by discussing the impact of industrialization on energy security in the new era, during which the focuses of industrialization and energy security in China have changed. The former has shifted from quantity-based expansion to quality-based growth, while the latter has shifted from supply security to comprehensive security, including matching security. Since researchers have paid little attention to evaluations of industrialization and energy security from the perspective of the new era, this study aims to address this gap. An empirical study on the impact of industrialization on energy security is conducted, taking 30 provinces in China as research objects. The findings show that China’s energy supply security and consumption security have improved but that its matching security has deteriorated, which will eventually lead to an overall deterioration in energy security. Industrialization, however, can improve levels of energy security, supply security, and consumption security. Moreover, green technology efficiency and the capital–labor ratio both can improve levels of energy security and supply security, the former can also improve the level of consumption security and the latter can also improve the level of matching security. In contrast, an increase in GDP per capita inhibits energy security, supply security, consumption security, and matching security. This study will be helpful for policymakers seeking to resolve the issue of energy sustainability in the context of industrialization in China’s new era.