How does the new-type urbanisation affect CO 2 emissions in China? An empirical analysis from the perspective of technological progress

Zhaohua Wang, Yefei Sun, Bo Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    123 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The development of traditional urbanisation has generated environmental problems, so the Chinese Government has proposed a new-type of urbanisation path with uniquely Chinese characteristics. How does this new-type of urbanisation affect CO 2 emissions? Based on panel data from 29 provinces in China (2005 to 2016), we apply an exploratory spatial data analysis model, a spatial econometric model, and a threshold model to analyse the spatial autocorrelation of CO 2 emissions, the direct and indirect effects of new-type urbanisation on CO 2 emissions, and the threshold characteristics produced by technological progress, respectively. The key results are: (1) CO 2 emissions show significant positive autocorrelation in China, and the spatial distribution of CO 2 emissions is HH (High-High) or LL (Low-Low) clustered in most provinces; (2) new-type urbanisation has a paradoxical effect on CO 2 emissions. Energy-saving technology has a rebound effect on CO 2 emissions, but environmental technology inhibits CO 2 emissions; (3) by eliminating the rebound effect of energy-saving technology on CO 2 emissions and promoting environmental technology, new-type urbanisation indirectly inhibits CO 2 emissions; (4) new-type urbanisation exhibits a threshold effect on CO 2 emissions due to the different levels of energy-saving technology and environmental technology. Finally, policy recommendations for CO 2 emissions reduction are proposed from the perspective of new-type urbanisation, energy-saving technology, and environmental technology.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)917-927
    Number of pages11
    JournalEnergy Economics
    Volume80
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2019

    Keywords

    • CO emissions
    • Energy-saving technology
    • Environmental technology
    • New-type urbanisation

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