The Path Driving China’s Energy Structure Transformation from the Perspective of Policy Tools

Jintao Li, Hui Sun, Long Cheng () and Lei Chu ()
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Jintao Li: Centre for Quality of Life and Public Policy Research, Shandong University, Qingdao 266200, China
Hui Sun: School of Political Science and Public Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao 266200, China
Long Cheng: Centre for Quality of Life and Public Policy Research, Shandong University, Qingdao 266200, China
Lei Chu: Centre for Quality of Life and Public Policy Research, Shandong University, Qingdao 266200, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: Combing through Chinese energy-related policy texts and exploring the development path of energy restructuring are significant steps towards a better understanding of the history of energy restructuring in the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. To explore the various paths driving the transformation of China’s energy structure, the energy policies promulgated at the national level from 2001 to 2020 in China were systematically compiled. Based on the policy tool perspective, a theoretical framework for influencing China’s energy structure transition was proposed in three dimensions: objectives, tools, and intensity. A total of 39 national energy policy texts were analyzed using a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method. The results show that (1) the consistency levels of individual preconditions were all below 0.9, which does not constitute a necessary condition for the transformation of China’s energy structure; (2) the sufficiency analysis identified three paths of China’s energy structure transformation, which can be described as models driven by “multiple objectives + information”, “single objective + information”, and “single objective”; (3) energy restructuring is a goal-oriented process; the clarity and certainty of the efficient and green objectives of energy policies have a facilitating effect on energy restructuring, and the support of information technology provides an important guarantee for energy restructuring; (4) compared with European and American countries, it was found that China’s energy policy tools were characterized by an emphasis on macro-planning, insufficient connectivity, and marked tendencies in practice.

Keywords: policy tools; energy structure transformation; fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (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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