Research on the Effect of Urbanization on China’s Carbon Emission Efficiency

• Main Authors: Lianshui Li, Yang Cai, Liang Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-12-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: urbanization; carbon emission efficiency; dea; dynamic spatial panel
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/1/163

Improvements in carbon emission efficiency are crucial to China’s economic growth; carbon emission reduction and urbanization are two of the focuses of research on carbon emission efficiency. This paper selects 2000−2015 panel data from 30 provinces in China, evaluates the carbon emission efficiency of each province using the DEA method and, based on the STIRPAT expansion form, empirically looks at the effect of urbanization on carbon emission efficiency. The results show that, during the chosen time frame, not only did the carbon emission efficiency of China’s provinces show an upward trend but the carbon emission efficiency of the Eastern, Central and Western regions differed markedly, with the highest efficiency in the Eastern region, the second highest in the Central region and the lowest in the Western region. After controlling for population density, economic development level, energy intensity and industrial structure, urbanization we determine that urbanization can indeed improve carbon emission efficiency, although there are regional differences. Urbanization is conducive to improvements in carbon emission efficiency in both the Central and Western regions but the promotion effect of the Western region is stronger. The effect in the Eastern region is not significant. Based on the conclusions above, this paper puts forward policy recommendations that promote both China’s lower carbon efficiency and future environmental protection.