Assessing the Implications of Ecological Civilization Pilots in Urban Green Energy Industry on Carbon Emission Mitigation: Evidence from China

Peng Zhang, Lei Tan and Fei Liu ()
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Peng Zhang: School of Economics and Management, Xi’an Aeronautical Institute, Xi’an 710077, China
Lei Tan: School of Public Administration, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Fei Liu: School of Philosophy, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: This study aims to explore the role of China’s Ecological Civilization Pilot Policies in carbon emissions reduction within the urban green energy industry. It further investigates how these policies influence carbon emissions. To achieve this, a unique incentive–constraint model is established considering China’s distinctive political system. The DID model was used in this study, employing Chinese city data spanning from 2009 to 2020 and analyzing urban panel data with the use of two specific policies as quasi-natural experiments. The analysis reveals the following key findings: (i) Ecological Civilization Pilot Policies in the energy industry substantially contribute to carbon emission reduction through the effects of technological progress and industrial structure optimization; (ii) the unique incentive–restraint mechanism within these policies enhances their effectiveness, with short-term incentives and carefully designed assessment criteria playing a pivotal role in their successful implementation. These findings carry substantial implications for shaping environmental policies within the energy industry, emphasizing the importance of such policies in the ongoing global effort to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability.

Keywords: carbon emissions; ecological civilization; incentive–constraint mechanism (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: 2023
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