Spatial and temporal evolution of synergizing the reduction of pollution and carbon emissions and examination on comprehensive pilot effects–evidence from the national eco-industrial demonstration parks in China

Abstract

Synergistic governance for reducing pollution and carbon emissions can generate savings in policy costs and respond to ecological and environmental change pressures effectively. For exploring the temporal-spatial evolution of pollution and carbon reduction, and probing the synergistic of promoting pollution and carbon reduction at the urban level, this study utilizes panel data from 275 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2019, we examine the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of pollution and carbon reduction, the synergistic effects and spatial spillover effects of national eco-industrial demonstration parks (NEDP) on pollution and carbon reduction. And we do this work by using spatial analysis tools such as spatial autocorrelation, local cold-hot spot analysis, kernel density analysis, standard deviation ellipses, as well as multi-period double difference and spatial double difference models. We find that: (1) Carbon dioxide emissions and sulfur dioxide emissions display a geographical clustering trend during the study period, with high-density emission areas spreading from coastal regions to central and western ones. The center of emissions is located in Henan Province and shifting towards the northwest of China. (2) The development of NEDP in cities may greatly cut carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions. (3) National eco-industrial demonstration parks may significantly increase the synergistic impact of pollution and carbon reduction in the neighboring cities due to their significant spatial spillover effect. To enhance the synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction in the future, we need actively explore the construction of NEDP, and lay out these parks based on the level of resource endowment, industrial structure, and economic development.