A Study on the Decoupling Effect Between Economic Development Level and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: An Empirical Analysis Based on Mineral Resource-Based Cities in Southwest China

Runjia Yang, Xinyue Fan (), Jia Peng, Jiaqi Cao, Liang Li and Tingting Feng
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Runjia Yang: School of Built Environment, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UR, UK
Xinyue Fan: College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Jia Peng: College of Mathematics and Physics, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Jiaqi Cao: College of Mathematics and Physics, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Liang Li: College of Mathematics and Physics, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Tingting Feng: College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-23

Abstract: Mineral resource-based cities (MRBCs) refer to cities with mining and processing of mineral resources as the main industry, so there is a close relationship between their economic development and resource consumption. However, this relationship often hinders its rapid transition towards economic diversification and low-carbon models. Based on quantifying the economic index level of 18 MRBCs in southwest China, this paper has employed the Tapio elasticity coefficient method (Tapio model) and Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC curve) to analyze the decoupling effect between the economic index and carbon dioxide. After the deep research of the “decoupling” phenomenon and its dynamic changes between economic development and carbon emissions, this paper has aimed to explore a low-carbon transformation path suitable for each city. The research results have indicated that: (1) The overall trend of carbon dioxide emissions is increasing, but the growth rate is gradually slowing down, effectively controlling the situation of carbon dioxide emissions. (2) The economic index level shows an upward trend, and the growth rate gradually increases, which signifies a positive trend in economic development. (3) The decoupling effect began in MRBCs in southwest China in 2013, and the decoupling effect was achieved in 2019.

Keywords: mineral resource-based cities; carbon emissions; economic indices; decoupling effects; policy recommendations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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