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Can the SO2 emission trading system promote urban emission reduction?

Author

Listed:
  • Siying Yang
  • Wenxuan Sun
  • Zhouyi Wu
  • Yang He

Abstract

Preliminary explorations have been conducted on the SO2 emission trading system (ETS) in China, but existing studies have paid little attention to the system's emission reduction effect and the effect mechanism. Based on panel data of Chinese cities, this paper empirically examines the influence and mechanism of the SO2 ETS on urban SO2 emission. In addition, considering the role of government in local environmental governance, this paper also examines synergies between government environmental regulations and the SO2 ETS. The SO2 ETS significantly suppresses urban SO2 emission, but under more extreme levels of urban SO2 pollution, this emission reduction effect gradually weakens until it is no longer significant. The implementation of more stringent environmental regulations by local governments strengthens the emission reduction effect. The analysis of intermediary effects shows that the SO2 ETS promotes the reduction of urban SO2 emission by stimulating green technological innovation, promoting industrial structure adjustment, and channeling investment towards green assets, with the latter intermediary effect being stronger than the former two. This paper affirms the important role of ETSs in the development of the green economy and provides an empirical basis for countries to introduce market mechanisms to solve environmental challenges and leverage the role of government environmental regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Siying Yang & Wenxuan Sun & Zhouyi Wu & Yang He, 2022. "Can the SO2 emission trading system promote urban emission reduction?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(4), pages 963-974, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:43:y:2022:i:4:p:963-974
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.3431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Mengyao Liu & Hongli Jiang, 2022. "Can the Energy-Consumption Permit Trading Scheme Curb SO 2 Emissions? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Chun Lin & Gengrui Cui & Yingjie Sun, 2023. "Labor allocation: How environmental regulation promotes industrial structure," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(4), pages 1995-2003, June.
    4. Umair Kashif & Junguo Shi & Sihan Li & Qinqin Wu & Qiuya Song & Shanshan Dou & Mengjie Wei & Snovia Naseem, 2024. "Navigating the digital divide: unraveling the impact of ICT usage and supply on SO2 emissions in China’s Yangtze River Delta," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Lianying Hong & Xujun Liu & Bei Liu & Kewei Cao & Qiu Xia, 2025. "The impact of reducing trade barriers on enterprises' pollution emissions: Evidence from China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(4), pages 2190-2205, June.

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