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The Moderating Effect of Innovation on the Relationship between Urbanization and CO 2 Emissions: Evidence from Three Major Urban Agglomerations in China

Author

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  • Yanwen Sheng

    (Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yi Miao

    (Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Jinping Song

    (Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Hongyan Shen

    (Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China)

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between urbanization, innovation, and CO 2 emissions, with particular attention paid to the issue of how innovation influences the effect of urbanization on CO 2 emissions in urban agglomerations, considering the spatial spillover effect between cities. Therefore, based on panel data on 48 cities in the three major urban agglomerations in China from 2001–2015, a spatial econometric model is used to estimate the effect of urbanization and innovation on CO 2 emissions. The empirical results indicate that the relationship between urbanization and CO 2 emissions follows a U-shaped curve in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), an N-shaped curve in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and an inverted N-shaped pattern in the Pearl River Delta (PRD). Additionally, innovation shows a significantly positive effect on reducing CO2 emissions in the YRD, but does not exert a significantly direct effect on CO 2 emissions in the BTH and the PRD. More importantly, innovation played an important moderating role between urbanization and CO 2 emissions in the YRD and PRD, suggesting that reducing the positive impacts of urbanization on CO 2 emissions depends on innovative development. In addition, urban CO 2 emissions presented a clearly negative spatial spillover effect among the cities in the three urban agglomerations. These findings and the following policy implications will contribute to reducing CO 2 emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanwen Sheng & Yi Miao & Jinping Song & Hongyan Shen, 2019. "The Moderating Effect of Innovation on the Relationship between Urbanization and CO 2 Emissions: Evidence from Three Major Urban Agglomerations in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:6:p:1633-:d:214978
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    Cited by:

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    3. Mohammed Musah & Yusheng Kong & Isaac Adjei Mensah & Stephen Kwadwo Antwi & Mary Donkor, 2021. "The connection between urbanization and carbon emissions: a panel evidence from West Africa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 11525-11552, August.
    4. Mohammed Musah, 2023. "Stock market development and environmental quality in EU member countries: a dynamic heterogeneous approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 11153-11187, October.
    5. Sun, Yunpeng & Li, Haoning & Andlib, Zubaria & Genie, Mesfin G., 2022. "How do renewable energy and urbanization cause carbon emissions? Evidence from advanced panel estimation techniques," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 996-1005.

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