Measuring the evolution of China's low carbon economy performance

Abstract

In order to develop low carbon economy effectively and efficiently, it is equally important to pay attention to the outcome of developing low carbon economy and the process to reach this outcome. This paper takes carbon productivity (CP) and low carbon economy efficiency (LCEE) to respectively evaluate the outcome-oriented performance (the actual status) and process-oriented performance (the process to reach this status) of low carbon economy development in China. The results show that although the outcome-oriented performance of China's low carbon economy is improving, the process-oriented performance of it experiences a continuous decrease from 2000 to 2011, which signifies that GDP and carbon emissions are unevenly developed and the resources input are ineffectively and inefficiently used. Moreover, the determinants of CP and LCEE in different areas of China are analysed by grey relational analysis. The results suggest that the amount of R&D funding and financial expenditure should be improved to enhance the efficient and effective utilisation of inputs to reach balanced development between GDP and carbon abatement for all areas.