IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v199y2025ics0301421525000291.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can new energy demonstration cities break through the multiple carbon lock-in? Evidence based on double machine learning

Author

Listed:
  • Hu, Zheng
  • Xu, Yingzhi

Abstract

The “carbon lock-in (CLI)” dilemma poses a serious challenge for nations globally in pursuing sustainable development. The new energy demonstration city pilot policy (NEDCPP), as an important carrier for energy transformation, provides new momentum and direction for China to achieve “dual carbon” goals. The objective assessment of the carbon unlocking effect of this policy is of significant practical importance in achieving a harmonious progression between economic development and pollution reduction. This paper employs a double machine learning model to examine the influence of NEDCPP on urban CLI. The results show that: (1) The NEDCPP has markedly mitigated urban CLI, and this finding passes a series of robustness tests. (2) The causal mediation effect indicates that the NEDCPP suppresses the urban CLI through technological progress, institutional leadership, and social transformation. (3) It has a better CLI inhibitory effect on non-resource-based, small to medium-sized, key environmental protection, and new energy high-demand cities. (4) It breaks through the limitations of geography and administrative divisions, and plays a pivotal role in bridging the disparities in CLI across regions. This research offers empirical support for the global practice of NEDCPP, and expedite the response to global climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Zheng & Xu, Yingzhi, 2025. "Can new energy demonstration cities break through the multiple carbon lock-in? Evidence based on double machine learning," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:199:y:2025:i:c:s0301421525000291
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114522
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421525000291
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114522?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:199:y:2025:i:c:s0301421525000291. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.