Is the policy of massive transportation infrastructure construction hindering China’s carbon reduction?

Boqiang Lin () and Lirong Zheng

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2026, vol. 204, issue C

Abstract: With the goals of carbon neutrality and peaking emissions, China faces balancing economic growth with emission reductions. Transportation infrastructure significantly affects carbon emissions while enabling regional development. This study examines how road construction in China from 2000 to 2012 impacted county-level carbon emissions, using China’s National Highway Project as a natural experiment with a DID approach. The shortest path network addresses endogeneity from non-random routing. Firstly, according to the findings, the construction of transportation infrastructure has significantly increased carbon emissions (CE) in surrounding counties. Secondly, results show transportation infrastructure construction increased surrounding county carbon emissions (CE) through industrial agglomeration and urbanization. Thirdly, impacts were more significant in eastern counties and non-traditional industrial cities. Policy suggestions aim to reconcile infrastructure and climate goals.

Keywords: Transportation infrastructure construction; Carbon emissions; DID; Chinese counties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104817

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