The Effect of Air Pollution Control Auditing on Reducing Carbon Emissions: Evidence from China

Chen Zhao, Jiaxuan Zhu, Zhiyao Xu (), Yixuan Wang, Bin Liu, Lu Yuan, Xiaowen Wang, Jiali Xiong and Yiming Zhao
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Chen Zhao: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
Jiaxuan Zhu: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
Zhiyao Xu: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
Yixuan Wang: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
Bin Liu: School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
Lu Yuan: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
Xiaowen Wang: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
Jiali Xiong: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
Yiming Zhao: Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Audits, School of Government Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: Analyzing the carbon-emission-reduction mechanism from the perspective of air pollution control auditing is of great practical significance for China to implement the dual-carbon strategy. Based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2004 to 2018, we examine whether and how the auditing of air pollution control has an impact on carbon emission reduction by using multiple regression method and the mediating analysis. Our analyses show that air pollution control auditing can significantly restrain carbon emissions but has no impact on carbon emission intensity. Further research suggests that (1) the bottom-up audit represented by local audit institutions is more effective than the top-down audit represented by the National Audit Office; (2) air pollution control auditing follows a simple and direct method to curb carbon emissions by output reduction, regulation, and shutdown, rather than promoting technological progress and green transformation of enterprises in a high-quality development mode. Those findings provide an improvement direction for air pollution control auditing to contribute to carbon emission reduction and supply relevant policy references for implementing the dual carbon strategy.

Keywords: air pollution control auditing; carbon emission; carbon emission intensity; mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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