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Can Regional Integration Reduce Urban Carbon Emission? An Empirical Study Based on the Yangtze River Delta, China

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  • Dongsheng Yan

    (Public Administration School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Pingxing Li

    (Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS, Nanjing 210008, China)

Abstract

Regional integration can significantly affect carbon emissions, but scholars have paid more attention to the impact of integration level, ignoring the importance of regional integration expansion. This study attempts to demonstrate whether, in the process of promoting carbon peak and carbon neutrality in China, the transformation of the administrative region’s economy into an integrated economy based on urban agglomeration regional integration expansion affects urban carbon emissions. This study considers the regional integration expansion of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Economic Coordination Committee as a quasi-natural experiment, exploring the carbon emission reduction effect of regional integration with the difference-in-differences model. With the mediating and moderating effect models, this study examines the mechanism of regional integration affecting urban carbon emissions. The results show that regional integration, considering regional integration expansion, can significantly reduce urban carbon emissions. The carbon emission reduction effects of regional integration show significant heterogeneity. For example, there is a significant carbon emission reduction effect of high-hierarchy cities and an insignificant carbon emission reduction effect of general-hierarchy cities. Further research into the driving mechanism finds that deepening collaborative governance, industrial structure optimization, and green technology promotion brought about by regional integration are important mechanisms influencing urban carbon emissions. In addition, the carbon emission reduction effect of regional integration is influenced by the level of urban marketization and development efficiency. Different from the existing studies focusing on the effects of regional integration level, this study assesses the feasibility of promoting urban green development through urban agglomeration regional integration expansion. Based on the relevant empirical research, we propose to better promote high-quality development by strengthening urban agglomeration cooperation, optimizing urban development paths, strengthening innovative development, and improving macro political systems. It also indicates that the relevant policies should be formulated after considering local conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Dongsheng Yan & Pingxing Li, 2023. "Can Regional Integration Reduce Urban Carbon Emission? An Empirical Study Based on the Yangtze River Delta, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1395-:d:1033402
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    1. Xianwang Lv & Yingming Zhu & Jiazhen Du, 2024. "Can Regional Integration Policies Enhance the Win–Win Situation of Economic Growth and Environmental Protection? New Evidence for Achieving Carbon Neutrality Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Kunpeng Ai & Ning Xu, 2023. "Does Regional Integration Improve Carbon Emission Performance?—A Quasi-Natural Experiment on Regional Integration in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Xinyu Shan & Zihan Li & Xinyi Shao & Xinyi Wang & Zhe Feng & Kening Wu, 2024. "How Do Population Changes and Land Use Policies Affect the Relationship between the Urban Economy and Public Services?," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Kangjuan Lv & Jiaqi Li & Ye Zhao, 2023. "Can Internet Construction Promote Urban Green Development? A Quasi-Natural Experiment from the “Broadband China”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-21, March.

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