How does the new-type urbanisation affect CO2 emissions in China? An empirical analysis from the perspective of technological progress

By Zhaohua Wang, Yefei Sun, Bo Wang. Energy Economics, 2019

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Abstract The development of traditional urbanisation has generated environmental problems, so the Chinese Government has proposed a new-type of urbanisation path with uniquely Chinese characteristics. How does this new-type of urbanisation affect CO2 emissions? Based on panel data from 29 provinces in China (2005 to 2016), we apply an exploratory spatial data analysis model, a spatial econometric model, and a threshold model to analyse the spatial autocorrelation of CO2 emissions, the direct and indirect effects of new-type urbanisation on CO2 emissions, and the threshold characteristics produced by technological progress, respectively. The key results are: (1) CO2 emissions show significant positive autocorrelation in China, and the spatial distribution of CO2 emissions is HH (High-High) or LL (Low-Low) clustered in most provinces; (2) new-type urbanisation has a paradoxical effect on CO2 emissions. Energy-saving technology has a rebound effect on CO2 emissions, but environmental technology inhibits CO2 emissions; (3) by eliminating the rebound effect of energy-saving technology on CO2 emissions and promoting environmental technology, new-type urbanisation indirectly inhibits CO2 emissions; (4) new-type urbanisation exhibits a threshold effect on CO2 emissions due to the different levels of energy-saving technology and environmental technology. Finally, policy recommendations for CO2 emissions reduction are proposed from the perspective of new-type urbanisation, energy-saving technology, and environmental technology.

Subfields: Economics and Econometrics, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/983dbed41e8aa6fc96fc5c0a7d689ebc4bb32209