Local and spillover effects of net-zero actions on SDG 7

Yuan Zhuang, Haiwei Zhou, Teng Wang, Lina Zhang and Changgao Cheng

Energy, 2025, vol. 327, issue C

Abstract: We are globally falling behind on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which we have committed, necessitating immediate practical actions. The promotion of net-zero actions can have both positive and negative effects on the achievement of SDG 7, which are rarely studied, especially spatially. This study proposes a dynamic DDF-DEA model to evaluate the efficiency of the SDG 7 system and measures net-zero actions in 30 provinces of mainland China. On the basis, the study assesses how net-zero actions affect the provinces’ efficiency of the SDG 7 system using spatial econometric models. The results are as follows: (1) The overall efficiency of the SDG 7 system in China during 2011–2021 was barely satisfactory and spatially uneven, with an efficiency score of 0.52. (2) Net-zero actions have both local and spillover effects on the efficiency of the SDG 7 system, particularly concerning the economic sacrifices for net-zero actions. (3) On average, a 10 % increase in economic sacrifices for net-zero actions contributes to a 3.74 % improvement in the efficiency of the SDG 7 system for the local province, and a 17.05 % improvement for neighboring provinces. These findings offer regional insights for policymakers in China to enhance SDG 7 performance and achieve climate ambitions.

Keywords: Sustainable development goals; Net-zero actions; Data envelopment analysis; Spatial durbin model; Spatial spillover effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:327:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225019644

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136322

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