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An Examination of Green Credit Promoting Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction: A Provincial Panel Analysis of China

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  • Wenjie Zhang

    (School of Economics, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China)

  • Mingyong Hong

    (School of Economics, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China)

  • Juan Li

    (School of Government, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China)

  • Fuhong Li

    (School of Economics, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550000, China)

Abstract

The implementation of green finance is a powerful measure to promote global carbon emissions reduction that has been highly valued by academic circles in recent years. However, the role of green credit in carbon emissions reduction in China is still lacking testing. Using a set of panel data including 30 provinces and cities, this study focused on the impact of green credit on carbon dioxide emissions in China from 2006 to 2016. The empirical results indicated that green credit has a significantly negative effect on carbon dioxide emissions intensity. Furthermore, after the mechanism examination, we found that the promotion impacts of green credit on industrial structure upgrading and technological innovation are two effective channels to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Heterogeneity analysis found that there are regional differences in the effect of green credit. In the western and northeastern regions, the effect of green credit is invalid. Quantile regression results implied that the greater the carbon emissions intensity, the better the effect of green credit. Finally, a further discussion revealed there exists a nonlinear correlation between green credit and carbon dioxide emissions intensity. These findings suggest that the core measures to promote carbon emission reduction in China are to continue to expand the scale of green credit, increase the technology R&D investment of enterprises, and to vigorously develop the tertiary industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjie Zhang & Mingyong Hong & Juan Li & Fuhong Li, 2021. "An Examination of Green Credit Promoting Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction: A Provincial Panel Analysis of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7148-:d:582178
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    5. Dinh Cong Hoang & Dinh Cong Tuan, 2023. "Evaluating the Role of Green Financing, International Trade and Alternative Energies on Environmental Performance in Case of Chinese Provinces: Application of Quantile Regression Approach," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(2), pages 500-508, March.
    6. Chongwu Xia & Chong Guan & Ding Ding & Yun Teng, 2024. "Navigating Success in Carbon Offset Projects: A Deep Dive into the Determinants Using Topic Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-19, February.
    7. Su, Chi-Wei & Li, Wenhao & Umar, Muhammad & Lobonţ, Oana-Ramona, 2022. "Can green credit reduce the emissions of pollutants?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 205-219.
    8. Decai Tang & Hui Zhong & Jingyi Zhang & Yongguang Dai & Valentina Boamah, 2022. "The Effect of Green Finance on the Ecological and Environmental Quality of the Yangtze River Economic Belt," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
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