IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envirb/v52y2025i6p1498-1516.html

Assessment of carbon emission reduction potential in new-type urbanization policy: A perspective on carbon rebound effect

Author

Listed:
  • Qiaoru Wang
  • Zhenghao He
  • Tingyu Liu

Abstract

In this research, we utilize a refined model for carbon emissions, known as the Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA), to measure the extent of the carbon rebound effect across a sample of 231 urban areas in China, spanning the years 2011 through 2019. Additionally, the study explores the impact that policies associated with the advancement of new urbanization have had on the aforementioned carbon rebound phenomenon. The findings of this thesis indicate that this policy can reduce carbon emission volumes effectively; however, there is also a significant carbon rebound effect, making the reduction less efficient than expected. After several robustness tests, the main conclusions remain consistent and reliable. Our investigation into the underlying mechanisms reveals that policies aimed at fostering new urbanization may attenuate the carbon rebound effect by enhancing the efficiency and composition of industrial sectors. However, technological advancements and the degree of energy efficiency remain pivotal in potentially escalating the carbon rebound effect. The analysis of variations across different scenarios demonstrates that the policy’s impact on the carbon rebound effect is subject to variation depending on several factors, including geographical contexts like provincial boundaries, the administrative hierarchy of cities, transportation infrastructure, and the constraints imposed by resource availability. As a multi-target policy, although this policy has a carbon rebound effect, it also has a significant social welfare effect, which coincides with the development goal of China. Ultimately, some suggestions are offered to enhance the role of this policy in promoting carbon emission reduction and to foster a virtuous interaction between this policy and economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiaoru Wang & Zhenghao He & Tingyu Liu, 2025. "Assessment of carbon emission reduction potential in new-type urbanization policy: A perspective on carbon rebound effect," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 52(6), pages 1498-1516, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:52:y:2025:i:6:p:1498-1516
    DOI: 10.1177/23998083241301855
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23998083241301855
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/23998083241301855?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Feng, Yidai & Yuan, Huaxi & Liu, Yaobin & Zhang, Shaohui, 2023. "Does new-type urbanization policy promote green energy efficiency? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    2. Shao, Shuai & Huang, Tao & Yang, Lili, 2014. "Using latent variable approach to estimate China׳s economy-wide energy rebound effect over 1954–2010," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 235-248.
    3. Yang, Lisha & Li, Zhi, 2017. "Technology advance and the carbon dioxide emission in China – Empirical research based on the rebound effect," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 150-161.
    4. Sun, Chuanwang & Yuan, Xiang & Yao, Xin, 2016. "Social acceptance towards the air pollution in China: Evidence from public's willingness to pay for smog mitigation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 313-324.
    5. Yu, Weihua & Liang, Wenjing & Yao, Xin, 2024. "The effect of the county-to-district conversion policy on energy efficiency of enterprises: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    6. Morakinyo O. Adetutu & Anthony J. Glass & Thomas G. Weyman-Jones, 2016. "Economy-wide Estimates of Rebound Effects: Evidence from Panel Data," The Energy Journal, , vol. 37(3), pages 251-270, July.
    7. Vélez-Henao, Johan-Andrés & García-Mazo, Claudia-Maria & Freire-González, Jaume & Vivanco, David Font, 2020. "Environmental rebound effect of energy efficiency improvements in Colombian households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    8. repec:aen:journl:ej37-3-adetutu is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Orea, Luis & Llorca, Manuel & Filippini, Massimo, 2015. "A new approach to measuring the rebound effect associated to energy efficiency improvements: An application to the US residential energy demand," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 599-609.
    10. Christopher D. Elvidge & Daniel Ziskin & Kimberly E. Baugh & Benjamin T. Tuttle & Tilottama Ghosh & Dee W. Pack & Edward H. Erwin & Mikhail Zhizhin, 2009. "A Fifteen Year Record of Global Natural Gas Flaring Derived from Satellite Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-28, August.
    11. Saunders, Harry D., 2008. "Fuel conserving (and using) production functions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 2184-2235, September.
    12. repec:aen:journl:1992v13-04-a07 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Braunerhjelm, Pontus & Lappi, Emma, 2023. "Employees' entrepreneurial human capital and firm performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    14. Ren, Yi-Shuai & Liu, Pei-Zhi & Klein, Tony & Sheenan, Lisa, 2024. "Does the low-carbon pilot cities policy make a difference to the carbon intensity reduction?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 227-239.
    15. Shao, Shuai & Guo, Longfei & Yu, Mingliang & Yang, Lili & Guan, Dabo, 2019. "Does the rebound effect matter in energy import-dependent mega-cities? Evidence from Shanghai (China)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 212-228.
    16. Lin, Boqiang & Zhu, Penghu, 2021. "Measurement of the direct rebound effect of residential electricity consumption: An empirical study based on the China family panel studies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    17. Harry D. Saunders, 1992. "The Khazzoom-Brookes Postulate and Neoclassical Growth," The Energy Journal, , vol. 13(4), pages 131-148, October.
    18. Shi, Kaifang & Chen, Yun & Li, Linyi & Huang, Chang, 2018. "Spatiotemporal variations of urban CO2 emissions in China: A multiscale perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 218-229.
    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. Tan, Ruipeng & Zhang, Zixuan & Du, Kerui & Lin, Boqiang, 2025. "Energy rebound effect in China: Measurement based on a variable coefficient production function," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    2. Zhen, Wei & Qin, Quande & Miao, Lu, 2023. "The greenhouse gas rebound effect from increased energy efficiency across China's staple crops," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. Maliyamu Abudureheman & Qingzhe Jiang & Xiucheng Dong & Cong Dong, 2022. "CO 2 Emissions in China: Does the Energy Rebound Matter?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-25, June.
    4. Lin, Boqiang & Zhu, Penghu, 2021. "Measurement of the direct rebound effect of residential electricity consumption: An empirical study based on the China family panel studies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    5. Kong, Li & Mu, Xianzhong & Hu, Guangwen & Tu, Chuang, 2023. "Will energy efficiency improvements reduce energy consumption? Perspective of rebound effect and evidence from beijing," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    6. Karakaya, Etem & Alataş, Sedat & Erkara, Elif & Mert, Betül & Akdoğan, Tuğba & Hiçyılmaz, Burcu, 2024. "The rebound effect of material and energy efficiency for the EU and its major trading partners," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    7. Miao, Zhuang & Chen, Xiaodong, 2022. "Combining parametric and non-parametric approach, variable & source -specific productivity changes and rebound effect of energy & environment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    8. Zhu, Yuke & Lan, Mudan, 2023. "Digital economy and carbon rebound effect: Evidence from Chinese cities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    9. Ouyang, Xiaoling & Yang, Yuchuan & Du, Kerui & Cheng, Zhenyu, 2022. "How does residential electricity consumption respond to electricity efficiency improvement? Evidence from 287 prefecture-level cities in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    10. Wei, Kai & Zhang, Zuopeng Justin & Lin, Boqiang, 2024. "Does news propaganda really affect residents’ electricity rebound effect: New evidence of non-price information," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    11. Xu, Mengmeng & Chen, Can & Zhou, Xiaoshi, 2024. "Enhancing understanding of rebound effect: A novel varying coefficient model for China's industrial sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    12. Bruns, Stephan B. & Moneta, Alessio & Stern, David I., 2021. "Estimating the economy-wide rebound effect using empirically identified structural vector autoregressions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    13. Li, Guohao & Niu, Miaomiao & Xiao, Jin & Wu, Jiaqian & Li, Jinkai, 2023. "The rebound effect of decarbonization in China’s power sector under the carbon trading scheme," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    14. Berner, Anne & Bruns, Stephan & Moneta, Alessio & Stern, David I., 2022. "Do energy efficiency improvements reduce energy use? Empirical evidence on the economy-wide rebound effect in Europe and the United States," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    15. Stern, David I., 2020. "How large is the economy-wide rebound effect?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    16. Brockway, Paul E. & Sorrell, Steve & Semieniuk, Gregor & Heun, Matthew Kuperus & Court, Victor, 2021. "Energy efficiency and economy-wide rebound effects: A review of the evidence and its implications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    17. Wang, Xiong & Wang, Xiao & Ren, Xiaohang & Wen, Fenghua, 2022. "Can digital financial inclusion affect CO2 emissions of China at the prefecture level? Evidence from a spatial econometric approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    18. Rabindra Nepal & Muhammad Indra al Irsyad & Tooraj Jamasb, 2021. "Sectoral Electricity Demand and Direct Rebound Effects inNew Zealand," The Energy Journal, , vol. 42(4), pages 153-174, July.
    19. Shao, Shuai & Guo, Longfei & Yu, Mingliang & Yang, Lili & Guan, Dabo, 2019. "Does the rebound effect matter in energy import-dependent mega-cities? Evidence from Shanghai (China)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 212-228.
    20. Amjadi, Golnaz & Lundgren, Tommy & Persson, Lars, 2018. "The Rebound Effect in Swedish Heavy Industry," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 140-148.

    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:sae:envirb:v:52:y:2025:i:6:p:1498-1516. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.