Agglomeration effect of CO₂ emissions and emissions reduction effect of technology: A spatial econometric perspective based on China's province-level data

To clarify the spatial characteristics of CO₂ emissions, economic externalities of spatial units are transplanted into CO₂ emissions research. Furthermore, to identify emissions reduction pathways, spatial econometric models are constructed based on the patent data about energy conservation and emissions reduction. The key results are: (1) The kernel density plot of China's CO₂ emissions shows an obvious right-averse state, and the peak is getting lower. Therefore, we can conclude that CO₂ emissions in China are increasing, and polarisation of CO₂ emissions is serious; (2) Due to the similarity and connectivity exist in spatial units, China's CO₂ emissions have shown a stable spatial agglomeration effect from global and local perspectives; (3) Based on adjacent, geographic, and economic distance matrices, energy technological progress has played a positive emissions reduction role on China's CO₂ emissions from the perspective patent data about energy saving and emissions reduction. Finally, on the basis of the above conclusions, some policy implications have been proposed accordingly.