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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Environ. Sci.
Sec. Environmental Economics and Management
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1488526
This article is part of the Research Topic Advancing Carbon Reduction and Pollution Control Policies Management: Theoretical, Application, and Future Impacts View all 15 articles

The impact of low-carbon city pilot policy on carbon emission intensity: Evidence from China using a multi-period difference-indifferences model

Provisionally accepted
  • Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    In the context of global efforts to combat climate change, highlighted by the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) and the growing global emphasis on low-carbon development, this study investigates the impact of China's low-carbon city pilot policies on carbon emission intensity. Using data from 283 Chinese cities between 2005 and 2021, a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model is employed to analyze the effects of these policies. The study also explores the mediating mechanisms, moderating effects, and heterogeneity across cities. The main findings are as follows: (1) The low-carbon city pilot policies significantly reduce carbon emission intensity, with the impact becoming stronger and more stable over time. (2) The reduction in carbon intensity is partially mediated by enhanced carbon sink levels and industrial structure upgrades, although technological investment does not have a significant effect. (3) Environmental regulations negatively moderate the policy's effectiveness, while fiscal freedom and population growth rates positively influence its impact. (4) The effects of the policy are heterogeneous across cities, driven by differences in economic levels, geographical locations, industrial bases, resource endowments, and population sizes. This paper provides valuable empirical insights and policy recommendations for China's low-carbon transition and for achieving its carbon neutrality and peak emission targets.

    Keywords: China's dual carbon goals, low carbon city pilot policy, "carbon emission reduction" effect, Multi-period Double Difference, heterogeneity analysis

    Received: 30 Aug 2024; Accepted: 23 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Shu, Peng and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Jia-Jia Peng, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.