Path Analysis of Regional Carbon Lock-in and Unlocking from a Qualitative Comparative Perspective

Yang Chen, Tianxin Lai (), Jingke Hong and Yue Teng
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Yang Chen: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Tianxin Lai: Chongqing University
Jingke Hong: Chongqing University
Yue Teng: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

A chapter in Proceedings of the 27th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, 2023, pp 235-252 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Carbon lock-in is becoming increasingly prominent in China’s industrialization. Understanding regional carbon lock-in and finding the path of carbon unlocking are of great significance for China to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutralization. Based on the qualitative comparative perspective, this paper systematically defined the five stages of regional carbon lock-in (carbon attraction, carbon clustering, carbon lock-in, unlocking transition, and relative unlocking) at the provincial level between 2000 and 2019 and analyzed their historical evolution characteristics. Further, the forming paths of carbon lock-in and unlocking were explored by using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results showed that during the past 20 years, the general trend of carbon lock-in in China was from the gradual formation of carbon lock-in to carbon unlocking. In addition, there were nine paths of carbon lock-in and five paths of unlocking. The carbon lock-in paths can be summarized as Government Driven, Technological Lag, Development Backward, and Extensive Development, and the unlocking paths can be classified as Social Unlocking and Economy Driven. Using a quantitative method to describe the qualitative definition of carbon lock-in and unlocking, this study provided a systematic perspective on the transition of carbon lock-in in China and offered unlocking recommendations for carbon-locked regions.

Keywords: carbon lock-in; carbon unlocking; configuration perspective; fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-3626-7_19

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