Development Of Green Economy Research Articles

Exploring the Realization Level and the Obstacles Affecting Different Types of Ecological Product Value—A Typical Case from Zhejiang, China

The realization of ecological product value (EPV) is a crucial pathway for green economic development and the practical implementation of both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and China’s “Two Mountains Theory”, which emphasizes the need for harmony between ecological protection and economic growth. While China has initiated several pilot projects, there remains no consensus on the classification of ecological products or the measurement of EPV realization levels, largely due to limitations in the existing accounting systems, which fail to address EPV’s complexity. This study introduces a novel framework for measuring EPV realization, categorizing ecological products into pure public, quasi-public, and operational types. It demonstrates the economic value of ecological conservation, providing viable economic incentives for green development. This framework allows governments and businesses to see that protecting and sustainably utilizing natural resources can also yield economic benefits, thus offering a new feasible pathway for green development. Using Zhejiang Province as a case study, the authors present an improved coupling coordination model and a mechanical equilibrium model to assess EPV levels, emphasizing the importance of tailored regional strategies. Additionally, an obstacle degree model is employed to identify and analyze the factors limiting EPV realization. The results show that (1) different types of ecological products follow distinct value realization paths within the “economic–ecological–social” system; (2) EPV realization varies significantly across regions, with a trend of being lower in the southwest and higher in the northeast; (3) obstacles to value realization differ across subsystems, with particular attention needed to improve quasi-public ecological products in the ecological and social domains; (4) factors such as pesticide use and the number of tourist attractions affect EPV realization at the provincial and municipal levels, respectively. This study presents a new EPV measurement framework and highlights the spatial–temporal variability of EPV realization across regions. It provides valuable insights for developing countries and ecologically vulnerable areas seeking to optimize their EPV realization, supporting sustainable development and advancing “Two Mountains Theory” transformation.

Mineral resource dependence and green transformation: the impact and challenges of green finance in Chinese cities

Overcoming the resource curse while balancing environmental protection and economic growth presents significant challenges. We developed an evaluation system to measure the green economic efficiency (GEE) of 262 cities and introduced the concept of the mineral resource curse. This study investigates both linear and non-linear relationships between mineral resource dependence (MRD) and GEE, as well as the role of green finance in this context. To address the endogeneity issue arising from the bidirectional causality between MRD and GEE, we used the interaction of relief degree of land surface and time as instrumental variables (IV). The empirical results indicate that a city’s MRD significantly inhibits GEE. Specifically, an increase in MRD hinders GEE by reducing green investment and crowding out green credit. By categorizing cities according to resource cycle theory, we found that non-resource-based and regenerative cities effectively avoided the mineral resource curse. However, resource-based, growing, mature, and declining cities did not benefit from their mineral resources. This conclusion remains robust even after changing IV and using various estimation methods such as IVTOBIT. Furthermore, this study discusses the practical effects of green finance. We found that green investment has a limited impact, failing to offset the negative influence of MRD on GEE. Under the influence of green credit, the relationship between MRD and GEE exhibits an inverted U-shape. This finding highlights the limitations of green finance policies at the municipal level in China. Overall, this study provides new evidence for improving China’s green finance system and promoting green economic development. It offers a fresh perspective for China and other developing countries in their green transformation efforts and avoidance of the mineral resource curse.

Harmonizing Digital Trade for Sustainable Stride: Unveiling the Industrial Pollution Reduction Effect of China's Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zones

As a key export-oriented economy, China faces significant challenges to its green economic development due to industrial pollution. While digital trade is crucial for sustainable development, its impact on industrial pollution has not been studied. This paper addresses this gap by adopting prefecture-level data from 2005 to 2021 and using a staggered difference-in-differences model to assess the impact of comprehensive pilot zones policy of cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) on industrial sulfur dioxide pollution. The findings indicate that CBEC significantly reduces industrial sulfur dioxide emission intensity, with the effect growing stronger over time. The effect is particularly notable in eastern and western regions, large cities, cities with underdeveloped digital infrastructure, and cities with lower pollution. Mechanism analysis reveals that CBEC lowers industrial emission intensity by driving structure upgrading, fostering green innovation, and advancing digital transformation. This paper emphasizes that the government can expedite the green transformation of the economy by integrating digital trade with industry.

The Impact of Digital Finance on the Efficiency of Urban Green Economy

Digital finance is a new financing model for small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals. In recent years, with the rapid development of big data, cloud service technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, it has to some extent promoted the efficient development of urban green economy. From the perspective of applying digital finance to urban enterprises and individual consumers, this study explores the important role of digital finance in enterprise investment and financing services, industrial structure upgrading, technological innovation, and the promotion of personal credit, consumption patterns, job employment, and environmental participation activities. Based on this, the impact of digital finance on the operation and efficiency improvement of urban green economy is obtained, and the problems of inadequate digital transformation and low coordination level in different industries of the city's economy are solved.

Evaluating the influence of environmental regulations on green economic growth in China: A focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency guidelines

China's status as the world's largest energy consumer highlights its pivotal role in global energy consumption and the urgency of enhancing its energy efficiency and renewable energy development. This study evaluates the influence of environmental regulations on green economic growth in China, with a focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency, from 2000 to 2023 across 30 provinces. Using the Metafrontier-Global-SBM super-efficient DEA model, the research measures green economic development through the lens of energy efficiency. An enhanced fuzzy comprehensive assessment gauges the stringency of environmental regulations. To explore non-linear impacts, regional spillover, and feedback effects, a spatial econometric model was applied. The results reveal a U-shaped non-linear relationship between environmental regulations and green economic growth, with significant spatial feedback and regional spillover effects. Environmental regulations are also shown to have a substantial positive influence on the development of renewable energy, a critical driver of green economic growth. Policy implications suggest that strengthening environmental regulations could accelerate renewable energy adoption and foster sustainable economic growth across regions in China.

Guest editorial: Women and Gulf Cities. The transformative impact of women influencing the architectural and urban developments of the gulf region

PurposeWith this special edition, “Women and Gulf Cities”, we collect scholarly contributions to the ongoing discourse on the impact of women on architectural and urban developments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).Design/methodology/approachThe discussions offered in this issue highlight the various implications, ranging from gender-inclusive urban planning, educational and professional development, sustainability and heritage to global frameworks of innovative and practical solutions for achieving inclusive and integrated urban practices that promote the full and equal participation of women in architecture and city-making.FindingsThe increasing involvement of women in these sectors play a pivotal part in their development and success. It can also be recognised as essential for promoting individual and family well-being, fostering social cohesion and driving economic development. Women play essential roles in sustainable solutions, evolving green economy and sustainable development. Moreover, collaborations initiated by women in the Arab region are instrumental in advancing sustainable development to pave the way towards a sustainable future.Originality/valueThis special edition offers a comprehensive exploration of various facets, ranging from gender-sensitive urban design (GSUD) to the educational and professional development of women in architecture and design, particularly in the Gulf region. The originality of this research lies in its focus on the multifaceted and integral role of women in shaping the architectural and urban landscape of the Gulf region, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for GSUD and the potential for creating more inclusive, equitable and sustainable built environments in the Gulf.

Does the integration of digital and real economies promote urban green total factor productivity? Evidence from China

Enhancing urban green total factor productivity (UGTFP) is of great significance in driving the green transformation of cities. The integration of the digital economy and real economy (IDR) offers a novel approach to improving UGTFP. This paper constructs a theoretical analytical framework to examine the impact of IDR on UGTFP. Utilizing a range of econometric models and Chinese urban data, this paper empirically analyzes the influence, mechanism, and spatial spillover effect of IDR on UGTFP. The findings reveal that China's IDR is currently at a stage of low integration, exhibiting significant regional disparities, with a spatial distribution pattern declining from east to west. IDR can significantly enhance UGTFP, and the conclusion is supported by robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effect of IDR on UGTFP is more pronounced in the eastern and western regions, as well as in areas with a large Internet scale. The mechanism test suggests that economic agglomeration can significantly amplify the promotional effect of IDR on UGTFP. IDR can boost UGTFP by elevating innovation levels and optimizing labor resource allocation. Further exploration reveals a significant positive spatial spillover effect of IDR on UGTFP. These insights not only offer a practical pathway for green transformation but also provide empirical evidence for policymakers to formulate scientific policies, enhance coordination, and improve data governance, thereby facilitating high-quality and green economic development.

Analysis of green productivity in manufacturing based on different air pollution levels

China’s manufacturing industry needs to change from a high-emission model to one that is more environmentally friendly to reduce air pollution and achieve sustainable growth. Therefore, it is important to decrease manufacturing waste gas emissions by improving green productivity. This paper expands on the theories of green economic growth and sustainable development to present a framework for analysis of manufacturing green productivity at various levels of air pollution. It applies the Metafrontier Malmquist Luenberger index and SBM model to data from 30 Chinese manufacturing sectors from 2012 to 2022 to identify the obstacles to developing green productivity in the manufacturing sectors. The results show that: (1) From 2012 to 2022, the overall waste gas emission efficiency and GTFP of China’s manufacturing industry showed an increasing trend. (2) The manufacturing industry with light air pollution had the fastest growth in GTFP, followed by manufacturing with heavy air pollution, and manufacturing with moderate air pollution had the lowest. (3) The primary driver of GTFP growth is technological progress, while technical inefficiency has severely hindered GTFP growth. (4) There is a “Matthew effect” in the green productivity of China’s manufacturing industry. High waste gas emission efficiency often accompanies high levels of GTFP, and vice versa. Finally, this paper proposes policy suggestions to improve the green productivity of the manufacturing industry and reduce air pollution.

Synergistic effects of waste coral powder and metakaolin in cement pastes: Hydration, pore structure, rheology, and strength

Coral reefs are abundant in waste coral powder, and how to utilize coral powder efficiently to construct far-sea projects has become a major focus of research and engineering field, which is conducive to the development of green economy. However, existing research lacks a comprehensive and systematic investigation of the cement-coral powder-metakaolin ternary system. In this study, the hydration and rheological behavior, micromechanical and mechanical properties, and pore structure evolution of the ternary system are systematically investigated to uncover the synergistic mechanism between metakaolin and coral powder. The results indicated that, based on hydration, rheology, and mechanical properties, the recommended proportions of cement, coral powder, and metakaolin are 75 %, 10 %, and 15 %, respectively. The combination of coral powder and metakaolin effectively promotes hydration. Furthermore, it accelerates the aluminate reaction, resulting in a stronger aluminate exothermic peak immediately. In addition, metakaolin reacts with coral powder to form carboaluminate, activating the activity of the coral powder, which in turn improves the mechanical properties and pore structure of the ternary system. Moreover, metakaolin undergoes a pozzolanic reaction with calcium hydroxide, which contributes to optimizing the pore structure of the ternary system and enhancing its mechanical properties. Additionally, coral powder promotes the conversion of monosulfate to carboaluminate while inhibiting the transformation of ettringite into monosulfate. The Herschel-Bulkley model accurately simulates the dynamic rheological behavior of the ternary system. This study is highly significant and practically valuable for transforming waste coral powder into a supplementary cementitious material for the construction of the far-sea projects, providing a scientific basis for future related studies.

Does green imprinting affect green entrepreneurial behaviors? The application of imprinting theory and stimulus‐organism‐response theory

AbstractGreen entrepreneurship has become pivotal for mitigating resource wastage and safeguarding the ecological environment within the framework of green economic development. Scholars have paid scant attention to investigating the transformation and advancement of green imprinting in shaping individual green entrepreneurial behaviors. In this study, we address this gap by integrating imprinting theory and the stimulus‐organism‐response (SOR) theory, constructing a comprehensive mediating moderation model encompassing green imprinting, green entrepreneurial intentions, green entrepreneurial behaviors, and green self‐efficacy. Through an empirical examination of 331 valid questionnaire responses, we identify two distinct dimensions of green imprinting. Both positive and negative green imprinting exert a notable influence on green entrepreneurial behaviors, with green entrepreneurial intentions serving as a mediating factor between green imprinting and actual entrepreneurial behaviors. Our research carries substantial theoretical and practical implications, enriching our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying green imprinting and providing guidance for entrepreneurs engaged in green business ventures.

Green Economy from a Regional Perspective – a Polish Case Study

The article presents the elaboration and specification of the green economy concept, where resource scarcity, global climate change and environmental degradation are paving a new path towards sustainable development. The article addresses the issue of implementing the principles of green economy at the regional level. The implementation of a green economy at a regional level provides an excellent space for scientific deliberations. The aim of the research is to identify and assess the level of regional disparities in green economy development across Polish regions using a synthetic measure. The basis for the analysis was a set of substantively and statistically analyzed diagnostic variables from the years 2012-2022. The synthetic indicator of the green economy was calculated for every Polish region (NUTS 2) and the regions were ranked based on their score from highest to lowest. As a result of the analysis, the regional polarization and the ordering of regions in Poland in terms of the synthetic metric - green economy development - were discussed. Keywords: green economy, green growth, sustainable development, taxonomic methods.

Developing a green economy towards sustainability: Research in Vietnam in the context of digital transformation

In recent years, the Party and State have paid great attention to promoting green economy, circular economy and sustainable development. Thereby, many policies have been issued to orient economic development towards sustainability, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, improving investment quality and efficiency, and focusing on attracting high-quality projects. However, in reality in Vietnam, the trend of green economic development is only at the starting point, the green economic development process is still lacking in synchronization and facing barriers in terms of capital, human resources, science and technology resources... In the face of environmental and social consequences, from developing the brown economy, countries have gradually shifted to a green economy - an economy that cares about happiness, social justice and the environment in addition to economic goals. Vietnam is no exception to this trend. Green economic development has been of interest to the Party and the State since the early years of the Doi Moi period and has achieved certain successes. However, the construction of a green economy in Vietnam still faces many limitations due to many reasons, such as: lack of capital resources, labor quality, science and technology level not meeting requirements... This poses synchronous and long-term solutions with each specific step towards a green economy. The article reflects the current situation and solutions for green economic development in Vietnam. Keywords: Sustainability, Green Economy, Digital Transformation.

Financial incentive instruments of regional economy’ «green» transformation

Transformation and development of the economy towards greening is an important measure for different regions to address the global challenges of climate change and rising pollution levels, and a necessary pathway to achieve sustainable development. Whether it is modernization and transformation of green technologies in traditional industries or green management of the public environment, external financial support is needed to compensate for the insufficient investment of micro-economic actors. The purpose of the study is to analyze the key financial instruments that stimulate the green transformation of the regional economy, as well as an attempt to determine the directions of using these instruments to increase the effective supply of green funds and ensure their increasing role in promoting economic transformation on the path of building an ecological civilization. The methodological basis of the study was formed by analytical and comparative methods, as well as relevant works of scientists devoted to the study of the problems of stimulating environmentally-oriented transformation processes, primarily in the regional context. The results of the analysis show that, given the important supporting role of finance in the green transformation of the economy and the fact that the relevant research is still at the initial stage, the systemic mechanism of financial stimulation of the regional economy’ green transformation should be based on three elements: financial support, capital allocation and risk diversification. It is demonstrated that the development of green economy cannot be separated from the increasing innovation dynamics of "green" financial products, so it is necessary to increase efforts in the field of development and implementation of financial innovations, to provide priority financial support to key sectors of the green economy.

QUANTIFYING THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF CARBON-BIASED TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS AND ITS DRIVING FACTORS IN CHINA

The carbon resource’s role in guiding energy conservation and emission reduction through technological progress has become a focal point in theoretical research and policy discussions. By introducing carbon resource as a production factor into the transcendental logarithmic function, this study comprehensively employs statistical methods and GeoDetector to investigate carbon-biased technological progress in China from 2010 to 2020. The findings reveal an overall U-shaped trend in carbon-biased technological progress. As technology advances, the high-level areas of DLC and DKC shift toward the inland northwest, and each region’s carbon-biased technological progress is demarcated by the Heihe–Tengchong Line, exhibiting higher levels in the northwest and lower levels in the southeast. The spatial variation of carbon-biased technological progress is influenced by multiple factors, with the level of economic development playing a dominant role in the earlier period and the role of R&D investment becoming more significant in the later stage. In-depth research on carbon-biased technological progress is of great significance for optimizing carbon factor market allocation and achieving sustainable green economic development in China.

Research Factors Affecting Green Economic Development and Some Policy Implications

Vietnam is one of the countries heavily affected by climate change and rising sea levels. According to the World Bank, it is estimated that climate change will reduce Vietnam's GDP by 3.5% by 2050. Therefore, developing a green economy is the most effective and fastest way to adapt. and minimize the impact of climate change. The goal of the research is to evaluate the impact of environmental factors on Vietnam's green economic development. Through a survey of 215 samples from different subjects such as managers, businesses, residential communities, etc., the study pointed out 5 main influencing factors, including: government’s regulatory policies, engineering technology, environmental resources, human resources, and residential community. The research results provide a premise for suggesting a number of policy implications for the goverment as well as relevant ministries and branches in the process of completing the policy framework to develop a green economy for Vietnam in the coming time.

Quantification and sensitivity assessment of Chinese provincial ecological compensation in the perspective of carbon deficit redistribution

The ecological compensation mechanism is a tool for managing regional development and promoting the green economy. This paper proposes a revised model for carbon emissions and absorption based on IPCC, then analyses the spatial and temporal variations of carbon emissions, absorption, and deficit in 31 provinces of China from 2001 to 2019. A model was developed to redistribute carbon deficits and compensate for ecological imbalances, with the aim of eliminating background differences between regions. The concept of ecological compensation sensitivity was proposed, and a redundancy analysis (RDA) was conducted to detect possible influencing factors. Results indicate that: (1) The carbon deficits were relatively substantial in the centre and developed coastal regions, which were the subject regions of China’s ecological compensation. Meanwhile, the northwest and southwest regions were the object regions of ecological compensation, and the compensated object regions tended to extend towards the southeast. The majority of compensated subject areas are generally less sensitive than compensated object regions. (2) The graph of carbon deficit volume over time shows that China’s two carbon targets are closely aligned. The distribution of China’s ecological compensation amounts follows the pattern of provincial economic development levels, with higher compensation amounts concentrated in the central and coastal regions. There is a positive correlation between GDP, year, and population size with carbon emission and carbon deficit. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between year, region, and carbon absorption. (3) This compensation model can strongly incentivise the compensation subject area to proactively adjust its economic development model to cope with the significant compensation pressure. Additionally, it can fully encourage the compensation recipient area to continue adhering to the green economic development model. The conclusions of the study hold significant reference value for promoting the development of a green, low-carbon economy.

How does regional cooperation affect green total factor productivity?—Evidence from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay area in China

As a key regional development strategy, regional cooperation affects the sustainable development of city-regions. This study uses social network analysis, spatial analysis, and negative binomial regression analysis to investigate the impacts of regional cooperation on green total factor productivity (GTFP) in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The main findings are as follows. First, regional cooperation is growing closer, unfolding a trend of networked and polycentric development patterns in the GBA. Second, the GTFP of most cities exhibits an upward trend, indicating a continuous improvement in green economic development in the GBA. Third, different types of regional cooperation have heterogeneous impacts on GTFP, with economic cooperation being essential for regional GTFP. Overall, this study provides a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the environmental effects of regional cooperation.

How to get green with agricultural footprint: A global analysis of carbon emissions, environmental taxes, and agrochemical use

The agriculture sector, being highly vulnerable to climate change, plays a pivotal role in achieving green and sustainable economies. As the 2030 Agenda emphasizes the integrated development of environmental, social, and economic dimensions, it is crucial to understand how agricultural practices affect sustainability. This study investigates the environmental impact of the agricultural sector on the green economy by examining key environmental factors, such as agricultural energy emissions, environmental taxes, irrigated water use efficiency, fertilizer use, and pesticide application. The analysis is conducted using the Panel Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) model, with robustness checks performed through the comparison with the Panel ARDL model, using data from 2000 to 2020. To assess the green economy, an index is constructed based on 20 indicators related to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The results show that agricultural energy emissions, despite their environmental cost, are positively associated with green economy development, highlighting the trade-off between high productivity and environmental degradation in a resource-efficient economy. Improved water use efficiency is found to enhance agricultural sustainability and production. Additionally, environmental taxes and regulations exert a significant positive effect on both environmental preservation and social welfare. Contrary to the belief that reducing agricultural production will lower carbon emissions, the study suggests that adopting environmentally friendly practices and imposing targeted taxes are more effective strategies. The findings also reveal a negative relationship between excessive fertilizer use and the green economy, indicating the need for minimal fertilizer application to promote sustainability. The study concludes with specific policy recommendations. Governments, particularly in countries that have not yet adopted sustainable agricultural practices, should implement environmental taxes and regulations to promote carbon neutrality and support the Sustainable Development Goals. These measures are essential to balancing economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity in the agricultural sector.

Measurement and coupling analysis of the efficiency of resource‐based treatment of municipal solid waste in Chengdu–Chongqing area

AbstractMunicipal solid waste (MSW) is crucial for carbon cycle, residents' lives, and green circular economy development, but quantitative research is limited in efficiency and regional synergy. Considering the regional characteristics of Chengdu and Chongqing, this study establishes the input–output indicator system of MSW treatment in 16 cities in the Chengdu–Chongqing area, constructs the Data Envelopment Analysis model and the coupling coordination degree model, and makes an in‐depth study on the efficiency and environmental benefits of MSW resource treatment from 2012 to 2021. The research conclusion is as follows: first, the improvement of MSW treatment efficiency can be enhanced through reasonable policies and measures to promote sustainable urban development and socioeconomic benefits. The input and output levels of MSW treatment in 16 cities all show an upward trend. Second, the 16 MSW treatment systems have good average pure technical efficiency (Chongqing 0.9879, Chengdu 0.9805), average scale efficiency (Nanchong 0.9396), and average comprehensive efficiency (Nanchong 0.9148), but the overall comprehensive efficiency needs improvement. Third, in 2021, Chengdu's ecological and environmental benefits are better than Chongqing's, while Chongqing has a certain degree of input redundancy and output deficiency. Fourth, in the coupling analysis of resource treatment efficiency and environmental improvement benefits in Chengdu and Chongqing between 2012 and 2021, the coordination between resource treatment and environmental improvement in Chengdu lags behind that in Chongqing, but overall, the coupling is improving. Finally, suggestions for improving the efficiency of MSW resource treatment and promoting environmental improvement are presented from the front, middle, and back ends, respectively, to provide a reference for the policy‐making of city managers.

Optimization countermeasures for high-quality development of green economy driven by environmental regulations, carbon emission reductions, and efficiency enhancements

Optimization countermeasures for high-quality development of green economy driven by environmental regulations, carbon emission reductions, and efficiency enhancements