IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i18p8365-d1752140.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Study on the Spatial–Temporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Synergistic Effect of Pollution and Carbon Reduction: A Case Study of the Chengdu–Chongqing Region, China

Author

Listed:
  • Ting Zhang

    (College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
    College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

  • Zeyu Zhang

    (College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
    College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

  • Xiling Zhang

    (College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
    College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

  • Li Zhou

    (College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

  • Jian Yao

    (College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
    College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

Abstract

In the context of China’s “double carbon” goals, examining the spatial–temporal characteristics and influencing factors of the synergistic effect of pollution control and carbon reduction (SEPCR) in the Chengdu–Chongqing region (CCR) is crucial for advancing both air pollution (AP) control and carbon emissions (CE) mitigation. This study uses data on AP and CE from 2007 to 2022 and employs the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and kernel density estimation to investigate the spatial–temporal distribution and dynamic evolution of the CCD between AP and CE in the CCR. Additionally, the Tobit regression model is applied to identify the key factors influencing this synergy. The results indicate that (1) during the study period, the air pollutant equivalents (APE) in the CCR showed a declining trend, while CE continued to increase; (2) the overall level of coupling coordination remained low, exhibiting an evolutionary pattern of initial increase, subsequent decrease, and then recovery, with synergistic effects showing slight improvement but significant fluctuations; (3) the SEPCR in the CCR was generally dispersed, exhibiting no significant spatial autocorrelation. A “core–periphery” structure emerged, with Chongqing and Chengdu as the core and peripheral cities forming low-value zones. Low–low clusters indicative of a “synergy poverty trap” also appeared; (4) economic development (PGDP), openness level (OP), and environmental regulation intensity (ER) are significant positive drivers, while urbanization rate (UR), industrial structure upgrading (IS), and energy consumption intensity (EI) exert significant negative impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Ting Zhang & Zeyu Zhang & Xiling Zhang & Li Zhou & Jian Yao, 2025. "Study on the Spatial–Temporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Synergistic Effect of Pollution and Carbon Reduction: A Case Study of the Chengdu–Chongqing Region, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8365-:d:1752140
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8365/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8365/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Burtraw, Dallas & Krupnick, Alan & Palmer, Karen & Paul, Anthony & Toman, Michael & Bloyd, Cary, 2003. "Ancillary benefits of reduced air pollution in the US from moderate greenhouse gas mitigation policies in the electricity sector," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 650-673, May.
    2. Wen-Wen Zhang & Bin Zhao & Yue-Qi Jiang & Yong-You Nie & Basil Sharp & Yu Gu & Shi-Chun Xu & Yun Zhu & Jia Xing & Shu-Xiao Wang & He He, 2024. "Co-benefits of regionally-differentiated carbon pricing policies across China," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(1), pages 57-70, January.
    3. Yang, Tiantian & Yi, Lan & Yan, Shuai & Zhang, Rui & Wang, Xiyu, 2024. "Synergy of pollution reduction and carbon abatement of the 8 urban agglomerations in China: Status, dynamic evolution, and Spatial-temporal characteristics," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Jun Liu & Wenji Zhou & Jing Yang & Hongtao Ren & Behnam Zakeri & Dan Tong & Ying Guo & Zbigniew Klimont & Tong Zhu & Xiaolong Tang & Honghong Yi, 2022. "Importing or self-dependent: energy transition in Beijing towards carbon neutrality and the air pollution reduction co-benefits," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 1-24, August.
    5. Zhao, Qiuyun & Jiang, Mei & Zhao, Zuoxiang & Liu, Fan & Zhou, Li, 2024. "The impact of green innovation on carbon reduction efficiency in China: Evidence from machine learning validation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    6. Wei Shi & Weijuan Wang & Wenwen Tang & Fuwei Qiao & Guowei Zhang & Runzhu Pei & Luyao Zhang, 2024. "How Environmental Regulation Affects Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction Synergies—An Empirical Analysis Based on Chinese Provincial Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-24, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li Chen & Fujia Li & Haonan Zhang & Hao Cheng, 2025. "Can Green Finance Policy Achieve Collaborative Governance of Air Pollution? Evidence from Prefecture-Level Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Bonilla, Jorge & Coria, Jessica & Sterner, Thomas, 2012. "Synergies and Trade-offs between Climate and Local Air Pollution: Policies in Sweden," Working Papers in Economics 529, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    3. J. West & Arlene Fiore & Larry Horowitz, 2012. "Scenarios of methane emission reductions to 2030: abatement costs and co-benefits to ozone air quality and human mortality," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 441-461, October.
    4. Erin T. Mansur, 2007. "Do Oligopolists Pollute Less? Evidence From A Restructured Electricity Market," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 661-689, December.
    5. Shang, Hua & Jiang, Li & Kumar Mangla, Sachin & Pan, Xiongfeng & Song, Malin, 2024. "Examining the role of national governance capacity in building the global low-carbon agricultural supply chains," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    6. Hu, Ming-Che & Hobbs, Benjamin F., 2010. "Analysis of multi-pollutant policies for the U.S. power sector under technology and policy uncertainty using MARKAL," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 5430-5442.
    7. Shupeng Zhu & Michael Mac Kinnon & Andrea Carlos-Carlos & Steven J. Davis & Scott Samuelsen, 2022. "Decarbonization will lead to more equitable air quality in California," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    8. Fabio Antoniou & Efthymia Kyriakopoulou, 2019. "On the Strategic Effect of International Permits Trading on Local Pollution," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 74(3), pages 1299-1329, November.
    9. Färe, Rolf & Grosskopf, Shawna & Pasurka, Carl A., 2014. "Potential gains from trading bad outputs: The case of U.S. electric power plants," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 99-112.
    10. Bollen, Johannes, 2015. "The value of air pollution co-benefits of climate policies: Analysis with a global sector-trade CGE model called WorldScan," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 90(PA), pages 178-191.
    11. Krook Riekkola, Anna & Ahlgren, Erik O. & Söderholm, Patrik, 2011. "Ancillary benefits of climate policy in a small open economy: The case of Sweden," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 4985-4998, September.
    12. Inzunza, Andrés & Muñoz, Francisco D. & Moreno, Rodrigo, 2021. "Measuring the effects of environmental policies on electricity markets risk," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    13. He, Jingze & Wang, Feng, 2025. "Does urban agglomeration reduce carbon emissions in Chinese cities? New perspective on factor mobility," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    14. Muller, Nicholas Z., 2012. "The design of optimal climate policy with air pollution co-benefits," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 696-722.
    15. Kyriaki Remoundou & Phoebe Koundouri, 2009. "Environmental Effects on Public Health: An Economic Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-19, July.
    16. Steven Smith & J. West & Page Kyle, 2011. "Economically consistent long-term scenarios for air pollutant emissions," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 108(3), pages 619-627, October.
    17. Li, Xin & Li, Shiyuan & Cao, Jifeng & Spulbar, Andrei Cristian, 2025. "Does artificial intelligence improve energy efficiency? Evidence from provincial data in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    18. Guo, Zhi & Mao, Xianqiang & Lu, Jianhong & Gao, Yubing & Chen, Xing & Zhang, Shining & Ma, Zhiyuan, 2024. "Can a new power system create more employment in China?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    19. Finus, Michael & Rubbelke, Dirk T G, 2008. "Coalition Formation and the Ancillary Benefits of Climate Policy," Stirling Economics Discussion Papers 2008-13, University of Stirling, Division of Economics.
    20. Jinzhi Tong & Youyou Yang & Chunhua Zheng & Minglan Zheng, 2024. "Do Fiscal Incentives Contribute to Pollution Control? Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-21, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8365-:d:1752140. 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.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.