Low-carbon Industry Development Research Articles

Measurement of Carbon Total Factor Productivity in the Context of Carbon–Electricity Market Collaboration: An Application of Biennial Luenberger Productivity Index

China’s industrial sector generally relies on electricity as its main source of energy, and industrial production can be affected if there are problems with the electricity supply. In order to deal with the uncertain electricity supply and achieve the “dual carbon” target, the industrial sector needs to take effective measures to enhance carbon total factor productivity (CTFP). We use the biennial Luenberger productivity index (BLPI) to try to provide strategies for low-carbon industrial development in China. The results indicate that the overall CTFP of China’s industrial sector showed an increasing trend from 2006 to 2019. Technology change was the main contributor to the change in CTFP, but fluctuations in efficiency change remained a challenge. Differences were observed between the light industry sector (LIS) and the heavy industry sector (HIS) in terms of changes in CTFP, with LIS showing more stable changes and HIS experiencing larger fluctuations. Most sub-sectors showed increased CTFP during the sample period. R&D investment and R&D personnel have a positive impact on CTFP, while energy structure is found to hinder CTFP. According to the research results of this study, we offer the corresponding policy implications. This study is the first to explore the balance between low-carbon goals and industrial production from the perspective of improving CTFP, providing a new viewpoint on the contributions of technological innovation to solving socio-economic issues.

Digital empowerment and win-win co-operation for green and low-carbon industrial development: Analysis of regional differences based on GMM-ANN intelligence models

The study employs two sophisticated computational model validation mechanisms, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and System Generalized Method of Moments (SYS-GMM), as the theoretical foundation for sustainable development theory. Within this research framework, ANN serves as an intelligent model for autonomously learning input data features by capturing the nonlinear and dynamic relationships within the data. This study thoroughly simulates and analyzes the intricate relationship between digital empowerment and win-win cooperation in green and low-carbon industrial development. The findings indicate a regional decreasing trend in digital empowerment in China, with percentages of 87.39%, 79.05%, and 65.85%, respectively. These regional variations may result from policy, economic structure, and social factors. Notably, a significant trend of win-win cooperation exists between digital empowerment and green low-carbon initiatives. This discovery implies that promoting digital empowerment contributes to reducing green carbon emissions, offering empirical evidence for the positive impact of digital technology on promoting environmental sustainability. This study unveils the empirical trend of digitally-enabled green, low-carbon industry development within the win-win cooperation framework and presents specific recommendations for future sustainability strategies. In addition to offering a scientific foundation for policymakers, this study provides a forward-looking perspective for academics engaged in the study of digital transformation and environmental sustainability. Through a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between digital empowerment and win-win cooperation in the context of green and low-carbon industrial development, this study offers a profound understanding of the application of digital technology in sustainable development across diverse regions, contributing empirical research findings to advance sustainable development in China.

Environmental policies and low-carbon industrial upgrading: Heterogenous effects among policies, sectors, and technologies in China

Low-carbon industrial upgrading is a central means to achieve long-term climate change mitigation and sustainable industrial development. Yet the empirical evidence on the effects of environmental policies on low-carbon industrial upgrading remains relatively rare, and the analysis of channels is unexamined. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2016, this paper has contributed to the literature by testing the impacts of four distinct environmental policies on low-carbon upgrading and their possible channels. We found that energy-saving goals (ESGs) and new energy subsidies (NESs) promoted low-carbon upgrading, while pollution discharge fees (PDFs) restrained low-carbon upgrading and emission trading schemes (ETSs) had no impact. These conclusions were still tenable after a series of robustness tests. Channel analysis reveals that ESGs realized both low-carbon innovation and high-carbon industry restructuring (especially reflected in manufacturing), NESs were effective, but only in directing innovation. PDFs did not improve low-carbon upgrading, possibly due to their negative effects in low-carbon fields (including two sub-fields: energy efficiency and renewable energy). The restructuring and innovative effects of ETSs were insignificant. Finally, this paper put forward several policy implementations, including the promotion of market mechanisms, more strict law enforcement, and low-carbon industry development.

Driving mechanism of digital economy based on regulation algorithm for development of low-carbon industries

In recent years, natural disasters such as sudden changes in climate, earthquakes, typhoons, storms, and snowstorms have occurred frequently around the world, which have greatly threatened the survival and development of human beings. Many countries in the world are seeking a balanced development between economic development and natural environment. Among them, low-carbon economy is the priority choice, which has been accepted by all countries in the world. A low-carbon economy characterized by low energy consumption, low pollution and low emissions has become the mainstream trend in today's world. As a concept with a relatively broad connotation, the digital economy can be included in any economic form that directly or indirectly uses data to guide resources to play a role and promote the development of productivity. In this context, the driving mechanism of the digital economy for the development of low-carbon industries has also become one of the issues that every-one pays attention to. DEA (Data Envelope Analysis) is a linear programming model expressed as the ratio of output to input. It attempts to maximize the efficiency of a service unit by comparing the efficiency of a particular unit with the performance of a group of similar units providing the same service. In response to the above problems, this paper would use the DEA model to analyze the impact of the interaction between low-carbon industries and finance. It indirectly shows the relationship between the digital economy and the driving mechanism of low-carbon industry development. The experimental research shows that: under the same other conditions, there is an obvious positive relationship between environmental protection investment and financing and its output value. That is to say, the more the amount of environmental protection investment and financing in the low-carbon industry, the higher the industrial output value, which shows that the environmental protection financing has a good role in promoting the driving mechanism of the development of the low-carbon industry. It is confirmed that the digital economy can promote the driving mechanism of low-carbon industry development.

The Evaluation of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Industry Based on AHP-Entropy Weight Method

In response to the carbon peak and carbon neutrality dual targets, an index evaluation system was established around green development and decarbonisation consisting of three directions: “driving force”, “state”, and “response”. It includes 16 indicators such as the number of low-carbon technology releases, the proportion of CO2 generated from the industrial process. After collecting several current methods of constructing an index evaluation system around green development, an index evaluation system for assessing the low carbon industry process was advocated in different cities. The defined AHP analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-entropy weight method was used to determine the weights of evaluated indicators, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was adopted to complete the quantitative evaluation of data. Finally, the model was applied to 31 provinces, cities and autonomous regions in China and work out the score matching each province. According to the overall score, the development of CPCN process 31 provinces is categorized into 5 levels. The results show that a level C and a level D dominating and the level D accounting for the most significant proportion (more than 50%). Only three provinces and cities achieved the outstanding level of A. The conclusion that the carbon peak and carbon neutrality development in our country is still relatively lagging at the current stage with uneven regional distribution matches the actual situation; therefore, it validates the reliability of the method. Based on the scoring relationships between different indicators in each region, the defects and resistance of low-carbon industrial development in some provinces should be analysed to provide a foundation for further accelerating the steps towards achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

Research on key indicators of China’s low carbon industry development competitiveness

Nowadays, with global warming and frequent natural disasters, in order to reduce the occurrence of such problems, the world has improved new industrial models. China seeks new economic growth points, and low-carbon industries also emerge as the times require. The competition of low-carbon industries is bound to become the competition of the future economy. Objectively evaluating the key indicators of low-carbon industry development competitiveness is of great significance to the competition and development of low-carbon industries. Based on the questionnaire data of 295 various industries and governments, this study uses principal component analysis (PCA) to construct a comprehensive competitiveness model to evaluate the key factors of low-carbon industry development competitiveness. The results show that there are 6 key factors in the competitiveness of low-carbon industries, and they are ranked according to their weights, namely: opportunities and industry support factors (24.52%), production factors (23.52%), ecological factors (18.17%), government factors (15.32%), demand conditions (9.67%), and corporate strategic factors (8.79%). This shows that industrial support factors, enterprise’s own production factors, and ecological factors are all very critical to the development of low-carbon industries, and the input of these key elements should be further strengthened to improve the competitiveness of low-carbon industry development.

Ecological efficiency evaluation and driving factor analysis of the coupling coordination of the logistics industry and manufacturing industry

The coupling coordination of the logistics industry and manufacturing industry is conducive to the sustainable development of logistics and manufacturing and the stability of sustainable supply chain. The logistics and manufacturing industries are not only the basic industries that support social development, but also the industries with high carbon emissions. This paper constructs the measurement system of coupling coordinating ecological efficiency of two industries based on carbon emission constraints and finds out the driving factors affecting ecological efficiency, which is of great significance to the low-carbon coordinated development of the two industries in the future. Firstly, this paper classifies the carbon emissions from the logistics industry and manufacturing industry as undesirable outputs and evaluates the ecological efficiency of the logistics industry (LEE) and manufacturing industry (MEE) in the three urban agglomerations from 2006 to 2019 by using the unexpected slacks-based measure (SBM) model. Secondly, the coupling coordination method is used to analyze the coupling coordination scheduling of industrial ecological efficiency (MLCC). Finally, the spatial econometric model is used to analyze the driving factors of the MLCC. The results show that during the study period, the coupling coordination of the three urban agglomerations continued to grow, the Pearl River Delta coupling coordination is the highest, the Yangtze River Delta coupling coordination grew the fastest, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coupling coordination grew slightly slower. The development during the 13th Five-Year Plan period is obviously faster than that during the 11th and 12th Five-Year Plan. The empirical analysis results of spatial econometrics show that the driving factors have an impact on the coupling coordination degree of the three urban agglomerations, but the significance of each factor is different. The driving factors have significant spatial heterogeneity. The three urban agglomerations should formulate low-carbon industry development policies in line with local development according to the actual situation of each region and local conditions.

A technical framework for integrating carbon emission peaking factors into the industrial green transformation planning of a city cluster in China

Under the dual policy targets of carbon emission peaking (CEP) and industrial green transformation (IGT) in China, where a top-down policy implementation is usually adopted, a more integrative planning mode needs to be constructed for greening industrial development. This paper proposes a technical framework to tackle the weakness faced when integrating IGT-associated issues with CEP factors during the development of IGT options, with an application in the Hohhot–Baotou–Ordos–Yulin (HBOY) city cluster. A CEP-IGT model was built to portray the effects of seven selected indicators on industrial carbon emissions, and help develop six options by defining the transformation strengths of HBOY's energy-intensive industrial system. Particularly, the CEP times and volumes were employed as the criteria for evaluating the IGT options. We found that the regional CEP goal will not be accomplished by even 2035 under the business-as-usual scenario. To halt the emission growth trend will rely much on the structural factors of energy mix and industrial output, which were also determinants of the IGT performance. Option 3, representing a moderate level transformation, was the preferred IGT plan, reaching a peak volume of 255.27 MtCO2eq·a−1 in 2026. The preferred plan will result in the replacement of at least 14% of the coal used in thermal power by renewable energy, and an increase in industrial coal-use efficiency by 32.02%. Policy measures need to be implemented to cap the total industrial coal consumption to no more than 2494 Mt and sustain an industrial growth by developing lower-energy or carbon-intensive industries. By 2030, the intensity and volume of industrial carbon emissions will reach 1.89 tCO2eq·10,000 CNY−1 and 224.85 MtCO2eq·a−1, respectively. This CEP-IGT progress will benefit the goal of being carbon neutral. As such, we concluded that this new framework will aid the IGT planning process, not only improving our understanding of the relationships between carbon emission control and industrial updating levels, but also presenting an integrative path for China's city clusters to promote green, low-carbon industrial development.

Study on the construction of energy-saving evaluation index system for the development of low-carbon industrial — A case study in Pingtan of Fujian Province, China

To promote the development of low-carbon industries of Pingtan, it is necessary to establish a scientific, comprehensive and reasonable index system to evaluate the energy-saving of low-carbon industrial development. This paper firstly introduced the development background of Pingtan. By analyzing the domestic and foreign industrial low carbon development evaluation theory, the energy-saving evaluation system of Pingtan industrial low carbon development is constructed by selecting three subsystems of energy consumption index, emission reduction index and technical index, including 12 specific indexes. Finally, the paper proposed a calculation model using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The evaluation system has a crucial practical significance to optimize the industrial structure layout of Pingtan, promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, accelerate the pace of low-carbon industries development, and improve resource utilization efficiency.

Temporospatial pattern of carbon emission efficiency of China’s energy-intensive industries and its policy implications

Energy-intensive industries are the primary sectors of energy and resources consumption and carbon emissions. Exploring the temporospatial pattern and influencing factors of carbon emission efficiency (CEE) of energy-intensive industries helps discover the contribution of energy-intensive industries to regional carbon emissions and formulate different regional low-carbon industry development strategies. Through three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, the CEE of energy-intensive industries of China was estimated from provincial level, and the temporospatial distribution and influencing factors of CEE were analyzed by spatial autocorrelation analysis and Tobit model. The results showed that CEE of energy-intensive industries decreased from 0.649 to 0.587 during 2005–2017 with a decreasing rate of 9.60% annually, while the carbon emissions increased from 0.80 to 1.31 billion tonnes during 2005–2017. CEE of energy-intensive industries in China has obvious spatial heterogeneity and spatial agglomeration. CEE of the eastern provinces is relatively higher, while that of the western regions is lower. It showed that the scale efficiency (SE) of energy-intensive industries is close to the optimal frontier, while the pure technical efficiency (PTE) of energy-intensive industries should be improved in the future. Change of CEE of China’s provinces may fall into five categories: high-high-high, low-high-high, low-low-high, low-low-low, and low-high-low. Industry scale (IS) and research and development (R&D) are promoting factors for the CEE of energy-intensive industries, while energy intensity (EI), capital formation rate (CF) and water intensity (WI) are negative factors. To improve CEE and promote cleaner production of energy-intensive industries, the technological innovation capacity should be further improved, energy structure should be adjusted, energy and water consumption should be restrained and the open economic system should be further promoted in central and western China in the future, which help to realize the dislocation, coordination, and high-quality development of energy-intensive industries among China’s provinces.

Low Carbon Innovation: The Construction of Green Patent Pools in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

In view of the features of technology transfer and patent licensing of low carbon technologies, it is necessary to explore a new green patent system, focusing on solving the problems of excessive licensing fees and complicated implementation conditions. Based on the analysis of the industrial foundation and technical reserves of low carbon industry in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, this paper proposes a concept of constructing green patent pools in the region. First, to construct enterprise-shared green patent pools, break through the traditional competition pattern by sharing innovative technologies, and promote the overall development of low carbon industry. Second, to construct public green patent pools, which are funded by government totally or partially, promote the innovation and application of low carbon technologies, and promote to take the road of low-carbon development in the Greater Bay Area.

Research on the Performance Evaluation of Green and Low-Carbon Industrial Development in Gansu Province

Having rich natural resources and important strategic location, Gansu province was deployed with a large number of key industries after the liberation of the country. However, most of these industries have high-carbon and high-emission, which not only cause more serious damage to the already fragile ecological environment, but also restrict the green and low-carbon development of industry in Gansu province. Based on the analysis of the status quo of industrial green and low-carbon development in Gansu province, this paper evaluates the performance of industrial green and low-carbon development in recent 10 years, and then puts forward the countermeasures for green and low-carbon development.

Research on Energy Conservation for Industry in China

The period of “the 13th Five-Year Plan” will be a decisive stage to build the moderately prosperous society and achieve the first “Centenary Goal”, and a critical period to promote overall economic transformation and upgrading and embark on the new industrialization road. New development stage and idea will have a profound influence on Chinese economy, society and culture, from which a comprehensive and profound transform is being fostered. Building the modern, high-end and low-carbon industrial development pattern in line with Chinese benefits should be necessary to create the economically-upgrading and industrially-transformed development in China. Industry, as the most important department for energy consumption in China, has been the priority for promoting energy consumption reform and energy conservation and emission reduction in China. How to make further progress by virtue of transformation development of the industry is also an important proposition to be faced.

Modern Urban Planning and Design Based on Low Carbon Economy Concept

To accelerate the development of low-carbon industry in Zhaoqing City, transform the mode of economic growth, and promote industrial transformation and upgrading, the SWOT analysis method was applied. From the four aspects of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the feasibility of developing a low-carbon economy in Zhaoqing was systematically analyzed. From the adjustment of industrial structure, the optimization of energy structure, the promotion of low-carbon tourism, the development of circular economy, and the enhancement of carbon sink capacity, the development path of low-carbon economy was explored. Based on the above analysis, a low carbon development plan was prepared. From the implementation of low-carbon development strategy, the choice of low-carbon economy pilot, and the low-carbon economic security system, the implementation steps of Zhaoqing's low-carbon economy were discussed in detail. The results showed that the low-carbon economy concept provided some ideas for Zhaoqing's economic development. Therefore, Zhaoqing is still in its infancy. The city's transportation system is not perfect. To develop a low-carbon economy, governments, enterprises, and individuals need to participate actively.

From Rio to Paris: Achievements, problems, and prospects in the struggle against climate change

The newsbreak for writing this article was a kind of jubilee: 25 years ago, in 1992, a conference in Rio de Janeiro adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This event became the first in a series of follow-up conferences and documents aimed primarily at limiting carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere to counter global warming. The author is an active advocate of the concept of the anthropogenic impact on climate as a leading factor in climate change. He stresses the positive potential of international agreements in this field and a new energy-environmental paradigm, which implies the development of low-carbon industry and transition to renewable energy sources and the “green” economy.

Decoupling relationship between industrial growth and carbon emissions in three northeastern provinces of China : Analysis based on stability and deviation

The low-carbon industrial processes of all provinces were different in China, and the decoupling quality between industrial economic development and carbon emissions also existed differences in different provinces. In order to develop more efficient carbon reduction policy, this paper used decoupling model, decoupling value stability degree, decoupling quality degree and decoupling quality deviation degree formula to analyze horizontally and vertically the decoupling quality of five industries in three northeastern provinces of China, including primary industry; industry; construction; transportation, storage and postal industry; wholesale, retail, accommodation and catering industry. The paper concludes: firstly, the decoupling stabilities between five industries development and carbon emissions are different in three northeastern provinces of China. Liaoning and Jilin province is relatively stable compared with Heilongjiang province. Secondly, the decoupling quality among the five industries development and carbon emissions are different in three northeastern provinces of China. Jilin and Liaoning province has better decoupling quality than Heilongjiang province. Thirdly, the low carbonization process has gap in three northeastern provinces of China. It is better in low carbonization process of Jilin province and Liaoning province, whereas there is relatively big gap for low carbonization process among the different places in Liaoning province. Finally, this dissertation puts forward countermeasures and suggestions to provide references for the development of low-carbon industry in Jilin province.

Application of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) in the Energy Intensive Industry to Promote Low Carbon Industrial Development in Bangladesh

The consumption of natural resources (e.g. raw material, water & energy) in the industries is bringing welfare to the society but per unit of product from the industry is linked with the generation of environmental pollutants and emissions. Resource constraints and climate crisis have come into focus globally; particularly it has become one of the major concerns in the Asia Pacific region. At present, the countries in the Asia Pacific use resources three times greater than the rest of the world to generate one unit of GDP. These countries are more vulnerable to the impacts of resource constraints and climate change. Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) has come as a preventive environmental measure to facilitate pollution prevention and reduce carbon intensity per unit of products along with financial profit of the industry. Bangladesh has been considered as one of the transition economies in the South Asia. Industrial sector supports second largest share to the GDP of Bangladesh. The industrial productivity in the country is solely dependent on the locally available natural gas and imported raw materials. Energy Efficiency (EE) and Cleaner Production (CP) measures in the industry can facilitate the promotion of low carbon industrial development through pollution prevention and energy conservation. The main objective of this research is to identify the policy instruments for the promotion of low carbon industrial development in Bangladesh within RECP framework. In this research, ceramics sector has been taken as a research unit. Based on the research objective, three research strategies have been followed which are: 1) review of the existing Environmental Policy, Industrial Policy and Energy Policy of Bangladesh, 2) review of the relevant measures adopted in the regional countries, and 3) case study in a ceramic industry. Stakeholder consultation has been conducted to identify appropriate policy instruments based on multi-criteria evaluation. Through this research, eleven policy instruments have been identified in connection with the promotion of RECP measures in the country with the target of developing low carbon industrial operation. Among the eleven policy instruments seven policy instruments have been identified as prioritized policy instruments based on multi-criteria evaluation through stakeholder consultation. Apart from the prioritized policy instruments the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has to make realistic sector wise policies and specific policy targets to be achieved within timeline. The GoB has to increase consistency among the policies, strengthen coordination among the relevant institutions, and apply mix of policy instruments.

Study on Monitoring System of Low-Carbon Industry Cluster Based on Wireless Sensor Network

Industrial cluster has developed into an international economic status, this has received extensive concern. In the current world the economy is gradually transformed from industrialization to information technology, and gradually moves towards low-carbon road. Under the background of the current development of low carbon industry, which will directly affect China’s industrial road, at the same time the development of low carbon industrial cluster will also generate a very important influence on China's economy. The article is based on the theory of low carbon industrial cluster, combining with KAYA model, make a thorough inquiry of the approach and pattern of low carbon industry cluster development, put forward the analysis of the necessity and the feasibility of low carbon industry cluster development, and accordingly put forward path model of achieving the low carbon industrial cluster, in order to provide the powerful guidance for development of low carbon industry, realize the rapid development of Chinese economy, and low carbon development of Chinese industry.

The Analysis of Low Carbon Economy Oriented Industry Planning-Taking Gongqing Digiecocity as an Example

DigiEcoCity is an ideal city model which combines the concept of sustainable development, new technologies of digital revolution and functions thar are needed for creating a better life, and is the direction of the future development of low carbon city. Gongqing DigiEcoCity is low carbon economy-oriented in industrial planning, the needs of developing low carbon industry and enhancing the city’s social and economic development are taken into account in planning direction, function structure, land use, road & traffic,construction sequence and so on. The Gongqing DigiEcoCity actively explores the development of low carbon industry and is a pioneer in this field.

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from China's cities: Case study of Suzhou

Knowledge of the factors driving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cities is crucial to mitigating China's anthropogenic emissions. In this paper, the main drivers increasing GHG emissions from the Chinese city of Suzhou between 2005 and 2010 were identified and quantitatively analyzed using the Kaya identity and the log-mean Divisia index method. We found that economy and population were the major drivers of GHG emissions in Suzhou, having contributed 162.20% and 109.04%, respectively, to the increase in emissions. A decline in carbon intensity, which was caused by the declining energy intensity and an adjustment to the mixture of power and industrial structures, was the major determinant and accounted for a reduction of 171.24% in GHG emissions. Slowing and maintaining healthy growth rates of economy and population could be the primary and most effective means if Suzhou tries to curb the total emissions over the short term. It may be more realistic for Suzhou to control emissions by optimizing the economic structure for low-carbon industrial development because of the city's relative high energy requirements and low potential to mitigate GHGs by adjusting the energy mixture.