Pollution and Carbon Emission Reduction Effects of Transit Metropolis Construction: Evidence from China

Shiwen Chen and Ganxiang Huang ()
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Shiwen Chen: School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541006, China
Ganxiang Huang: School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541006, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: The aim of this study was to empirically examine the effects of China’s Transit Metropolis Construction Pilot (TMCP) policy on pollution and carbon dioxide emission reductions based on annual panel data from 286 prefecture-level cities in China for the period 2011–2019, using a staggered difference-in-differences approach. The results show that the TMCP policy significantly reduced the annual total carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions in pilot cities by approximately 1.624 million and 221.883 million tons, respectively. Further mechanism analysis demonstrated that the TMCP policy reduced pollution and carbon dioxide emissions by improving the operational efficiency of public transit, alleviating urban traffic congestion, and enhancing public environmental awareness. Finally, our heterogeneity analysis indicates that the pollution and carbon dioxide emission reduction effects of the TMCP policy were more pronounced in cities with poor public transit accessibility and low environmental regulation intensity. This study provides policymakers with valuable policy insights into effectively promoting public transit use, reducing urban air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions, and developing a sustainable urban transportation system.

Keywords: transit metropolis; public transit; pollution reduction; carbon dioxide emission reduction; difference-in-differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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