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How to Achieve Carbon Neutrality: From the Perspective of Innovative City Pilot Policy in China

Author

Listed:
  • Lina Liu

    (Business School, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
    China Institute for Tax Governance, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China)

  • Yunyun Zhang

    (Business School, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China)

  • Bei Liu

    (School of Management, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210003, China)

  • Pishi Xiu

    (School of Management, Wenzhou Business College, Wenzhou 325035, China)

  • Lipeng Sun

    (School of Management, Wenzhou Business College, Wenzhou 325035, China)

Abstract

The innovative city pilot policy is a new engine to accelerate the social development of China, which is an important support feature for realizing sustainable economic development. Using the city pilot policy issued by the Chinese government in 2008 as a quasi-natural experiment and the method of multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model, we explore the effect of the policy on regional carbon emission efficiency. The research shows that the innovative city pilot policy could lead a significant promotion of the carbon emission efficiency of cities, which shows the characteristics of dynamic sustainability, that is, the policy effect continues to increase over time. Mechanism analysis reveals that the innovative city pilot policy mainly drives the improvement of urban carbon emission efficiency through improving the green technology innovation level of pilot cities, promoting the upgrading of regional industrial structure and increasing government investment in science and technology. In addition, the innovative city pilot policy has a spatial spillover effect on urban carbon emission efficiency, that is, the innovative city pilot policy not only promotes the local carbon emission efficiency, but also improves the carbon efficiency of neighboring areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Lina Liu & Yunyun Zhang & Bei Liu & Pishi Xiu & Lipeng Sun, 2022. "How to Achieve Carbon Neutrality: From the Perspective of Innovative City Pilot Policy in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16539-:d:998325
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    1. Zhengjun Hu & Shanshan Li, 2023. "Innovation-Driven Policy and Low-Carbon Technology Innovation: Research Driven by the Impetus of National Innovative City Pilot Policy in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Long Qian & Xiaolin Xu & Yunjie Zhou & Ying Sun & Duoliang Ma, 2023. "Carbon Emission Reduction Effects of the Smart City Pilot Policy in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Ziyang Chen & Xiao Feng & Ziwen He, 2022. "A Key to Stimulate Green Technology Innovation in China: The Expansion of High-Speed Railways," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Jian Wen & Shiwei Su, 2023. "An Empirical Analysis of the Synergistic Effect of Urban Pilot Policies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, April.

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