Study on the measurement of interprovincial carbon emission performance, regional gaps, and spatial convergence in China

Pinjie Xie, Weinan Guo, Xinyi Lin, Yalin Shu, Feihu Sun and Bin Huang

Energy, 2025, vol. 317, issue C

Abstract: Promoting regional synergistic emission reduction to achieve the “double carbon” target requires realizing spatial convergence based on raising the performance level of carbon emission. This document employs both vertical and horizontal pull-off grade techniques to evaluate the comprehensive level of carbon emissions across 30 provinces between 2000 and 2021 and to measure carbon emission performance. Constructed on the principle of “dual control of carbon emissions,” this indicator system encompasses aspects like carbon emissions, and their efficiency, among other metrics. The evolutionary patterns of the regional variations, sources, and distribution dynamics of carbon emission performance was then examined, and the subregional tests of their spatial convergence processes were conducted. The research revealed the following: 1) Regarding developmental progress, the nation, and its seven key regions have had varied degrees of deterioration in their carbon emission performance, with the Southern China area experiencing the highest rate of fall; 2) Regarding regional disparities, the primary cause of the overall variations is interregional imbalance. Internal variations in the degree of development of carbon emission performance throughout the nation and the seven regions have progressively grown. The dynamic distribution of the areas varies greatly, and there is a greater degree of province polarization in North China and Northwest China; 3) Regarding convergence, σ-convergence is absent across the whole country and key regions, except for the central, southern, and southwest regions; the entire nation exhibits both absolute β-convergence and conditional β-convergence; absolute β-convergence exists for the three regions of central, southern and southwest China; and conditional β-convergence exists for the five major regions, except for the northern and eastern regions of China. And the rate of convergence of carbon emission performance gradually accelerates over time. In addition to offering quantitative evidence in favor of quickening the pace of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, this research offers fresh suggestions for reducing regional disparities in carbon emission performance.

Keywords: Carbon emission performance; Vertical and horizontal pull-off grade method; Regional difference; Spatial convergence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:317:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225002397

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.134597

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