Can New Quality Productivity Drive the Low-Carbon Transformation of Carbon-Intensive Industries? Macro and Micro Evidence from China

Hui Wang, Jie Zhou, Kuiying Gu and Feng Dong ()
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Hui Wang: School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614000, China
Jie Zhou: School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614000, China
Kuiying Gu: School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China
Feng Dong: School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066000, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: Reducing carbon dioxide emissions within carbon-intensive industries is a critical strategy to effectively combat global warming. The accelerated cultivation and enhancement of new quality productivity has created new momentum directed towards industrial low-carbon transformation. Using data from a sample of Chinese provinces and enterprises between 2011 and 2022, this study quantifies, evaluates, and explores the influence and mechanisms of new quality productivity on the low-carbon transformation of carbon-intensive industries. The research findings show that: (1) Fostering new quality productivity effectively promotes the low-carbon transformation of carbon-intensive industries and plays a positive, empowering role. Industrial innovation, digital stimulation, technological innovation, and green empowerment all support the low-carbon transformation of carbon-intensive industries, with their respective impacts gradually decreasing in turn. (2) Mechanism analysis confirms a chain transmission mechanism of “new quality productivity—environmental protection investment—green innovation—the transformation of carbon-intensive industries” at the macro-provincial level. In micro-level carbon-intensive enterprises, a positive U-shaped relationship between new quality productivity and low-carbon transformation of carbon-intensive industries is evident, and the main pathways include increasing low-carbon, energy-saving investment and improving the ESG performance of high-carbon emission enterprises. (3) Advancing transformation is more pronounced in central and western areas, high-carbon areas, non-carbon trading pilot areas, and non-energy-rich ecologically fragile areas. The government and enterprises should take advantage of the development opportunities of new quality productivity and adopt low-carbon behaviors to promote transformational development.

Keywords: new quality productivity; low-carbon transformation; carbon-intensive industries; low-carbon behavior; green innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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