Research on regional differences of the impact of clean energy development on carbon dioxide emission and economic growth

Weiping Jia,Ling Wu,Teng Yang,Yanbing Guo,Pan Xiao,Xianwen Jia,Ermei Wang

doi:10.1057/s41599-021-01030-2

Abstract

“China is by far the world’s largest importer of oil and emitter of carbon dioxide.” Therefore, clean energy development (CED) is of great practical significance to reduce carbon dioxide emission (CDE), ensure energy security, and achieve green economic growth. What is the role of CED in reducing CDE? Can CED, which requires significant investment, promote economic growth? For the above aims, according to the panel data of 30 provinces composed of accurate data during 1979 to 2016 and prediction data from 2017 to 2030 in China, this research employs “a non-parametric and additive regression model” to explore the linear and nonlinear influence of CED on CDE and economic growth. The results show that CED does not play an essential role in reducing CDE and fostering economic growth from a linear perspective; the influence of CED on CDE and economic growth in China’s western, central and eastern regions is significantly different from a nonlinear perspective. Hence, the Chinese government ought to fully play the critical role of clean energy in reducing CDE and fostering economic growth.

Highlights

Since the economic system reform, China’s GDP has grown by an average of 15% annually, which is driven by industrialization and urbanization from 1979 to 2016 (Lin et al, 2017)
The impact factor of clean energy development (CED) on the economic growth of “the eastern, central and western regions” are respective −0.109, −0.011, and −0.077, which means that the economic growth of the three regions will decrease by 0.109, 0.011, and 0.077 percentage points for every 1% increase in clean energy (CE) output
Conclusions and policy recommendations According to the panel data of 30 provinces in China composed of accurate data from 1979 to 2016 and forecast data from 2017 to 2030, this research employs “a non-parametric and additive regression model” in exploring the linear effect and nonlinear effect of CED on regional economic growth and carbon dioxide emission (CDE)

Summary

Introduction

Since the economic system reform, China’s GDP has grown by an average of 15% annually, which is driven by industrialization and urbanization from 1979 to 2016 (Lin et al, 2017). “The per capita GDP of the eastern region was 38370.4 RMB yuan, while the per capita GDP of central and western regions were, respectively, 19,348.7 RMB yuan and 18,314.5 RMB yuan from 1997 to 2016; the industrial added value in the eastern, central, and western regions accounted for 43.7%, 40.4%, and 41.8% of GDP from 1997 to 2016, respectively; the CDE in China’s eastern, central, and western regions were, respectively, 348 million tons, 268 million tons, and 183 million tons from 1997 to 2016” (“National Bureau of Statistics of China,” 1979–2016) If these differences are ignored, it is challenging to employ the outcomes drawn at the macroscopic level to different regions. It is essential to further investigate the effect of the growth of CE sources on the CDE and economic growth from the regional disparity

Literature review

E Yi xi1

Conclusions and policy recommendations

Findings

Ethical approval