Carbon Emission Reduction Effect Research Articles

The carbon emission reduction effect of two-way foreign investment from the perspective of government environmental attention

The carbon emission reduction effect of two-way foreign investment from the perspective of government environmental attention

Exploring carbon emission effects of national-level industrial park policies on cities in China

Serving as the backbone of economic development, industrial parks have strong implications for reducing carbon emissions in China under the “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” background. This study explores the carbon emission reduction effects of three different types of national-level industrial parks on prefectural-level cities in China, including economic and technological development zones (ETDZs), eco-industrial demonstration parks (EIDPs), and low-carbon industrial parks (LCIPs). Data on 204 prefectural-level cities over the period of 1999 to 2019 were examined by using the difference-in-differences method and the mediating effect model. The study revealed that (1) the three types of industrial parks significantly reduced the intensity of city carbon emissions by 1,155, 395, and 450 tons per million CNY, respectively; (2) There existed lag effects of 7 years for the ETDZ and 3 years for the EIDP; (3) Industrial structure exhibited significant mediating effects, with ETDZ and EIDP reducing city carbon emission intensity by 58 and 56 tons per million CNY, respectively; (4) Strong heterogeneity in the effects was found, arising from the differences in geographical location, resources endowment, and amount of industrial parks; and (5) ETDZ and EIDP reduced the carbon emission intensity of neighboring cities by 174 and 144 tons per million CNY, respectively, while LCIP increased that by 686 tons per million CNY. The major contribution of this study is analyzing the city-level impacts of ETDZ, EIDP, and LCIP, three different types of national industrial park policies with different implementation periods, regional distributions, and policy focuses. This not only fills a gap in the analyses of ETDZ and LCIP policies in this area of research, but also draws analogies and contrasts between the effects of the three different policies. This study suggests that the stability and long-term nature of industrial park policies be maintained and further transformation and upgrading of industrial structure be attained. Additionally, intercity coordination could be introduced or enhanced.

Differential Game Analysis of Carbon Emission Reduction Effect and Price Strategy Considering Government Intervention and Manufacturer Competition

ABSTRACTGovernments and enterprises are paying more and more attention to carbon emissions. Considering the dynamic of carbon emissions reduction (CER) and the government intervention, this study discusses the optimal CER effort level, price, and government intervention intensity in a two‐echelon supply chain consisting of a government and two manufacturers. The two manufacturers have two competitive behaviors: Cournot and Stackelberg. Two differential game models are constructed for the two different behaviors, and the optimal decisions under the two models are obtained. The comparisons of these optimal solutions are analyzed, and the influence of some parameters on the optimal solution in the two models is investigated under two scenarios. Furthermore, the optimal government intervention intensity is obtained with the goal of maximizing government utility. The results show that the Stackelberg game allows manufacturers to achieve higher profits and CER but is disadvantageous to consumers, and the manufacturer as the leader has a first‐mover advantage. Fierce market competition leads to greater CER and profits, but higher prices reduce consumer surplus. Larger penalties can promote enterprises to reduce carbon emissions when carbon emissions are large. Compared with the Cournot behavior game, the Stackelberg allows manufacturers to obtain higher profits and CER, but the prices are higher that are detrimental for consumers. The fierce market competition is good for manufacturers, the environment, and the society, but it reduces the consumer surplus. The low CER efficiency causes high costs and reduces the manufacturer's motivation to CER, which harm the environment and reduce profits. The government intervention is negatively correlated with the intensity of market competition and the sensitivity of manufacturers to policies.

A Quantitative Method of Carbon Emission Reduction for Electrochemical Energy Storage Based on the Clean Development Mechanism

Electrochemical energy storage (EES) plays a crucial role in reducing the curtailed power from wind and solar PV power (WSP) generation and enhancing the decarbonization effects of power systems. However, research on quantifying the carbon emission reduction effects of EES methods in the engineering field is still insufficient, which constrains decision-makers from making intuitive assessments of the decarbonization effects of energy storage. Therefore, drawing on the principles of the clean development mechanism (CDM), this paper proposes a method for quantifying the carbon emission reductions of a standalone EES station. Firstly, based on the design principles of building marginal emission factor in the CDM, a method for calculating the BM weight of WSP is proposed. Secondly, three quantification methods for the carbon emission reductions of EES are presented based on the complexity of the calculations. Lastly, to analyze the impacts of different operational conditions and calculation methods on the carbon emission reduction of energy storage systems, a dispatch model is constructed for various operational scenarios. The results of the case study indicate that different calculation methods yield varying results in terms of the carbon emission reductions of energy storage systems, with the sharply value method yielding the smallest reduction and the output curve method yielding the largest reduction. Additionally, when considering the losses in the state of charge (SOC) of an energy storage system and reducing the overall output fluctuations of WSP-EES, the carbon emission reduction potential of the energy storage will decrease. This study establishes a theoretical basis for quantifying the carbon emission reductions of standalone electrochemical energy storage systems, aiding decision-makers in gaining a deeper understanding of the role of electrochemical energy storage in carbon reduction and operational value.

The carbon emission reduction effect of digital economy: an empirical study based on chinese national big data comprehensive experimental zone

The carbon emission reduction effect of digital economy: an empirical study based on chinese national big data comprehensive experimental zone

Research on the Carbon Emission Reduction Effect of the Dual Pilot Policy of Low-Carbon Cities and New Energy Demonstration Cities

Achieving the “double carbon” goal and optimizing the energy structure necessitates strategic deployments such as low-carbon cities (LCCs) and new energy demonstration cities (NEDCs). Prior research has primarily examined the effectiveness of these two policies when implemented independently. Despite overlapping scopes, there remains a need for a definitive conclusion regarding whether the concurrent implementation of these policies will yield a synergistic effect, thereby further reducing carbon emissions. Employing panel data spanning 2007–2021 from 280 Chinese cities, this study investigates the carbon emission reduction (CER) effect of the dual pilot policy (DPP), focusing specifically on LCCs and NEDCs through a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) analysis. The findings reveal a significant synergistic effect between LCCs and NEDCs on CER, with the sequence of policy implementation playing a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of CER. Notably, cities first become NEDCs and subsequently transition into LCCs, demonstrating a more pronounced CER effect. Further analysis of the impact mechanism underscores that the DPP fosters urban CER by elevating inventive and improved green technology innovation. Among these, the contribution of inventive green technology innovation is particularly prominent, accounting for as much as 24%, far surpassing the 20% contribution of improved green technology innovation. A heterogeneity analysis indicates that the DPP’s impact is more significant in western and non-resource-based cities. Given China’s status as one of the world’s foremost carbon emitters, exploring China’s CER pathways holds profound practical significance and offers invaluable empirical insights for advancing global CER efforts.

How does green technology innovation affect urban carbon emissions? Evidence from Chinese cities

Green technology innovation is regarded as a key catalyst for sustainable urban development. This study mainly utilizes 278 Chinese cities data from the China Urban Statistical Yearbook, adopting ordinary least squares (OLS) and mediation effect model to investigate the dual impact and mechanism of green technology innovation on urban carbon emissions. Besides, spatial Durbin model (SDM) and threshold model are employed to examine spillover and non-linear impact. The results indicate that: (1) Green technology innovation can significantly mitigate carbon emission intensity, but cannot reduce carbon emissions. Thus, both carbon emission reduction effect and rebound effect coexist, and there is heterogeneity across different cities. (2) Green technology innovation has the potential to decrease carbon intensity through optimizing energy intensity, government participation and basic life cleanliness. (3) There is a spatial spillover effect concerning the emission reduction impact of green technology innovation. (4) The relationship between carbon emission intensity and green technology innovation exhibits a non-linear impact under varying levels of energy intensity, government participation, industrial structure rationalization, and environmental regulation. Building upon these findings, policy recommendations outlined in this study encompass the reinforcement of technological utilization, avoidance of excessive governmental intervention, and adoption of strategies for regional connectivity and differentiation.

Methodological study on carbon sequestration accounting for emission reductions from the whole-chain utilization of livestock and poultry manure

Effective livestock manure management is crucial for carbon neutrality. Scientific accounting methods and integrated management strategies can help guide reductions in carbon emissions and promote green development. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by livestock manure, this study analyzed current accounting systems and focused on the complete chain of “collection-treatment-storage-use-returning” of manure based on the theoretical framework of greenhouse gas emissions accounting in the IPCC 2019 Guidelines. Combined with a life cycle assessment, the accounting list and boundaries were clarified, and the whole chain of livestock and poultry manure greenhouse gas accounting methodology system was proposed. Using swine breeding as a case study, this study evaluated the carbon emission reduction and sequestration effect of the whole manure chain using a typical technology model and a typical technological framework. It predicted the carbon reduction potential and sequestration benefits of utilizing swine manure in 2025 and 2030 in four scenarios. The findings indicated that the greenhouse gas emission factor of the whole chain of the six typical swine manure utilization modes in China was −48.82–40.54 kgCO2et−1. In 2022, the net greenhouse gas emissions from swine manure in China totaled approximately 2.0 × 107 tCO2e, with manure resource utilization reducing emissions by 3.2 × 107 tCO2e. Our projections suggest that emissions from swine manure in China may range from −1.8 × 107 to 1.3 × 107 tCO2e by 2025 and from −3.1 × 107 to 4.5 × 106 tCO2e by 2030. This can help guide optimal greenhouse gas emission reduction pathways for livestock and poultry farming and aid in the formulation of policies.

Digital Economy and Urban Carbon Emissions: A Quasi-Natural Experiment of the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone in China

In this study, we assess the impact of digital economy development on urban carbon emissions using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach based on the quasi-natural experiment of the national big data comprehensive pilot zone (NBDCPZ) policy and panel data from 168 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2019. We find that the establishment of NBDCPZ has a significant carbon emission reduction effect. This finding is robust to various sensitivity tests. Further mechanism validation illustrates that the construction of NBDCPZ promotes the regional digital development level and reduces urban carbon emissions through three channels: improving energy efficiency to optimize energy consumption, increasing green total factor productivity, and promoting the clustering of high-tech industries. The heterogeneity analysis concludes that the carbon emission reduction effect of NBDCPZ policy varies with different regional locations and different city characteristics. Moreover, using spatial models, we find that the positive impact is characterized by spatial spillover effect. The findings provide detailed empirical evidence to formulate urban development strategies for enabling carbon reduction of the digital economy. JEL Classification: O30, Q53, Q55, Q58, R10

Impact Study of Environment Public Interests Litigation on Carbon Emissions: Taking Pilot Policy of Procuratorial Public Interest Litigation as a Quasi-Natural Experiment

The environmental problems caused by carbon emission have become the focus of worldwide attention. Effective control of carbon emissions cannot be achieved without the protection of the rule of law. Environment public interests litigation is a prominent innovation in the judicial system, and its role in supervising the government to perform its regulatory duties on carbon reduction and regulating the carbon emission behaviors of enterprises and the public deserves discussion. The paper selected the panel data from 274 prefecture-level cities from 2013 to 2021 and analyzed the impact of a procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policy on carbon emission control by using the double difference method. The research found that the procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policy can effectively curb carbon emissions. Heterogeneity analysis showed that in cities with relatively low level of green innovation, the negative correlation between procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policies and carbon emissions is more significant. Compared with the eastern region, in the central and western regions, especially in the central region, where the concept, policy, and funding of carbon emission governance are relatively weak, the implementation of the pilot policy of procuratorial public interest litigation had a more obvious effect on carbon emission governance. Mechanism tests showed that procuratorial public interest litigation policies reduce carbon emissions by reducing energy consumption and increasing public participation in environmental protection. The study will provide an empirical basis for the carbon emission reduction effect on pilot policy of procuratorial public interest litigation and will offer certain theoretical recommendations for improving the procuratorial public interest litigation system in the ecological environment field.

Analysis of China’s carbon financial Development’s impact on reducing emissions using the BCC and Malmquist models

This study evaluates the impact of China’s carbon finance development on carbon emission reduction and its role in promoting low-carbon economic growth. We construct an evaluation index system and employ Systematic Cluster Analysis (SCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methods to analyze the carbon finance markets in five representative Chinese provinces (autonomous regions). Utilizing the DEA-BCC model and DEA-Malmquist index, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the carbon emission reduction effects between 2022 and 2023. Our findings reveal that while China’s carbon finance development significantly contributes to carbon emission reduction, there are considerable regional disparities in effectiveness. Beijing and Guangdong achieved DEA efficiency, whereas Jilin, Ningxia, and Xinjiang experienced efficiency losses, suggesting a need for structural optimization. The study provides insights into challenges and potential improvements in China’s carbon finance sector and offers policy recommendations for enhancing market mechanisms, technological innovation, and social engagement to support China’s carbon peak and neutrality goals.

The Impact of Pilot Policies for Smart Cities on Carbon Emissions in Cities along the Eastern Coast of China

Based on panel data from 111 prefecture level cities in the eastern coastal region of China from 2006 to 2021, this article regards the three batches of smart city pilot policies implemented since 2012 as a "quasi natural experiment", uses the asymptotic difference in differencesAA (DID) method to explore their impact on carbon emissions in the eastern coastal region of China, and verifies the scientific and credibility of the research results through multiple robustness tests. Then, heterogeneity analysis and mechanism analysis are conducted to explore the impact mechanism of smart cities on carbon reduction according to policies. The research results indicate that, firstly, the pilot policy of smart cities is beneficial for reducing carbon emissions in the eastern coastal areas of China, and this result remains robust after robustness tests such as PSM-DID (propensity score matching), placebo test, and exclusion of other policy interferences. Secondly, the pilot policies of smart cities have different carbon emission reduction effects in cities with different characteristics, and have more significant carbon emission reduction effects on small cities, non resource-based cities, and high GDP cities. Thirdly, the pilot policy of smart cities promotes the green and low-carbon development of cities in the eastern coastal areas of China by enhancing technological level and optimizing industrial structure.

Impact of Big Data on Carbon Emissions: Empirical Evidence from China’s National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone

Big data is a pivotal factor in propelling the digital economy forward and emerges as a novel driver in realizing the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study focuses on a quasi-natural experiment, namely national big data comprehensive pilot zones (NBD-CPZs), and employs a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model to identify the influence of big data on carbon emissions. The findings of this study are as follows. Overall, big data significantly reduces carbon emissions within the pilot zones. Mechanism analysis shows that big data reduces urban carbon emissions by promoting green innovation, optimizing energy structure, mitigating capital mismatch and improving public awareness of environmental protection. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the carbon reduction effect of big data are more pronounced in cities with high levels of digital economy, non-resource-based cities, cities with strong intellectual property rights protection and the Guizhou Province. Spatial effect analysis indicates that within a radius of 400–500 km, the NBD-CPZ increases urban carbon emissions, signifying a significant siphoning effect; within a radius of 500–900 km, the NBD-CPZ reduces urban carbon emissions, signifying a significant spillover effect, and beyond a distance of 900 km, the spatial effect of the NBD-CPZ is not significant. Based on the above conclusions, this study puts forward several policy recommendations to effectively exert the carbon emission reduction effect of big data.

Effects of the Policy of Re-Designation of Counties as Cities or City Districts on the Agricultural Carbon Emission: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region in China

It is of great practical significance to utilize the agricultural carbon emission reduction effect of the policy of re-designation of counties as cities or city districts (RCCD) to achieve agricultural high-quality development. This paper uses panel data of 39 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region in China from 2010 to 2022, and adopts a staggered difference-in-difference model and a panel threshold model to identify the causal impact of the policy of RCCD on agricultural carbon emissions (ACE). We show that: (1) Overall, the policy of RCCD exerts a tangible dampening effect on ACE, with cities in the experimental group exhibiting a significant reduction of 0.069 in agricultural carbon emissions compared to the control group post-implementation of the policy. (2) A dual-threshold effect of environmental regulation emerges in the context of the policy of RCCD, wherein the impact on ACE varies depending on the level of environmental regulation. (3) The policy of RCCD exerts a notable inhibitory influence on urban ACE in cities with high urbanization levels, underdeveloped regions and central regions. (4) Agricultural green technology progress plays the mediating role in the relationship between the policy of RCCD and ACE. (5) The suppressive effect of the policy of RCCD on ACE is characterized by a delayed and enduring influence. Our study has both theoretical and practical implications for accelerating agricultural high-quality development.

Aluminum demand and low carbon development scenarios for major countries by 2050

Aluminum is a widely used energy-intensive material and the second largest source of carbon emissions from metal after steel. Global demand for aluminum has grown rapidly since 1970 and has shown a high correlation with population and economic growth. These factors have posed challenges to carbon reduction of aluminum industry. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate global aluminum demand and emissions to develop low carbon pathways. However, few studies have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the global aluminum industry. We develop different scenarios of joint abatement measures to explore pathways for the aluminum industry to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2050. Three scenarios are considered, namely, moderate mitigation scenario (MMS), enhanced mitigation scenario (EMS), and deep mitigation scenario (DMS). The results show that: 1) Aluminum industry has a high potential for carbon emission reduction. The emissions in the three scenarios will be reduced by 33%, 77% and 85% by 2050 compared to 2020, respectively. 2) The carbon emission reduction effect of energy structure optimization and low carbon technology application is significant, with the use of clean energy playing a decisive role. 3) There is an inverse U-shaped curve relationship between per capita primary aluminum demand and per capita GDP. The aluminum demand in China and India is still growing at a high rate, and carbon emissions are always at the top. This study will effectively support the development of a low-carbon transition path for the global aluminum industry.

Carbon Emission Effects of Spatially Connected Networks in the Digital Economy： Dynamic Evolution and Mechanism of Action

In the context of the "double carbon" goal and the construction of the "East Counts, West Counts" project, this study investigated the characteristics of the spatial and temporal evolution of the digital economy spatial correlation network, and the effects and mechanisms of carbon emission reduction and carbon rebound effects by selecting data at the level of 254 prefectural-level cities from 2011 to 2021 and using the UCINET software and empirical econometric modeling. The results indicated that： The spatial network of the digital economy represented the development pattern of multiple synergies and had the characteristics of non-equilibrium spatial evolution in geographic regions. Secondly, the spatial network of the digital economy in the sample selection period had a positive contribution to carbon emission reduction, and it led to the carbon rebound effect, which was still valid after the robustness test. Furthermore, the spatial correlation network of the digital economy could reduce carbon emissions by promoting the energy efficiency effect under technological progress and led to the carbon rebound effect. Finally, the empirical results were heterogeneous under the four dimensions of geographic region, administrative level, urban environmental governance objectives, and resource endowment.

Carbon Emission Accounting and Reduction Evaluation in Sponge City Residential Areas

This paper aims to establish a more standardized and regulated carbon emission accounting model for sponge cities by unifying the accounting content for carbon emissions and clarifying the relationships between carbon reduction benefits, carbon reduction effects, and carbon sequestration, in order to evaluate the carbon reduction outcomes and mechanisms of sponge city construction. Based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) carbon emission accounting model using the carbon emission factor method, a newly constructed residential area in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, was selected as a case study, and the carbon emission reduction effect of sponge city construction was then investigated. Results indicated that the 30-year full life cycle carbon emissions for sponge city construction in the newly constructed residential area amounted to 828.98 tons, compared to 744.28 tons of CO2 reduction in traditional construction, representing a 47.31% reduction in carbon emissions. Over a 30-year life cycle, this equated to a total carbon emission reduction effect of 1460.31 tons. Additionally, under various rainfall scenarios in a typical year, the carbon emission reduction effect of sponge city construction exceeded the carbon emissions, achieving carbon neutrality within 22 to 30 years of operation. This demonstrates that the carbon emission reduction effect of sponge city communities is significant. The findings of this study provide data and a theoretical basis for the low-carbon construction of sponge cities in China.

The carbon emission reduction effect of green fiscal policy: a quasi-natural experiment

Carbon emission reduction is crucial for mitigating global climate change, and green fiscal policies, through providing economic incentives and reallocating resources, are key means to achieve carbon reduction targets. This paper uses data covering 248 cities from 2003 to 2019 and applies a multi-period difference-in-differences model (DID) to thoroughly assess the impact of energy conservation and emission reduction (ECER) fiscal policies on enhancing carbon emission (CE1) reduction and carbon efficiency (CE2). It further analyzes the mediating role of Green Innovation (GI), exploring how it strengthens the impact of ECER policies. We find that: (1) ECER policies significantly promote the improvement of carbon reduction and CE2, a conclusion that remains robust after excluding the impacts of concurrent policy influences, sample selection biases, outliers, and other random factors. (2) ECER policies enhance CE1 reduction and CE2 in pilot cities by promoting green innovation, and this conclusion is confirmed by Sobel Z tests. (3) The effects of ECER policies on CE1 reduction and the improvement of CE2 are more pronounced in higher-level cities, the eastern regions and non-resource cities. This research provides policy makers with suggestions, highlighting that incentivizing green innovation through green fiscal policies is an effective path to achieving carbon reduction goals.

WITHDRAWN: The impact of renewable energy development on regional carbon emission reduction: Based on the spatio-temporal analysis of 30 provinces in China

The development of renewable energy has become an important means for the world to cope with climate change, ensure energy security and protect the ecological environment. Using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021, this paper used the mediating effect model and the spatial Durbin model (SDM) to explore the mechanism and spatial effects of renewable energy development on carbon emission reduction. The results show that: (1) The results of mechanism analysis show that renewable energy development reduces carbon intensity by improving energy structure, promoting industrial structure optimization and industrial structure upgrading. (2) Renewable energy development can not only reduce the local carbon intensity, but also have a positive spillover effect on the carbon intensity of neighboring regions. (3) Further analysis shows that renewable energy development has a dynamic effect on carbon emissions. The heterogeneity analysis shows that compared with the Yellow River basin, renewable energy development significantly influences carbon emission reduction in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region. Energy-rich areas fall into the "resource curse", which makes renewable energy development’s carbon emission reduction effect not significant. This paper has certain reference significance for promoting reasonable decomposition between regions and formulating renewable energy development policies.

Impact of fiscal regulation on regional carbon intensity: assessing the carbon emission reduction effect of transparent government revenue and expenditure

ABSTRACT Fiscal regulations enhance fiscal compliance and reduce undue government intervention in economic performance, which may have important implications for low-carbon development. However, few empirical studies have investigated the impact of fiscal regulations on carbon intensity. Based on data from 278 cities in China from 2005 to 2020, this study constructed a difference-in-differences model using the release of the new Budget Law to investigate the impact of fiscal revenue and expenditure regulation on regional carbon emission intensity. The empirical results indicated that fiscal regulations can significantly reduce the intensity of carbon emissions. The mechanism tests indicate that fiscal regulation can optimize the allocation of local governments’ fiscal revenues and expenditures and improve infrastructure and innovation. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that the effect of fiscal regulation on reducing carbon emission intensity is more obvious in regions with high historical emissions and a high proportion of polluting industries. Based on the empirical results, the government should continuously improve fiscal transparency and the efficiency of fiscal fund use to reduce the impact of unreasonable fiscal revenue and expenditure on carbon emissions intensity.