Carbon productivity and economic growth patterns in China

Abstract

This article discusses the changes in carbon productivity and economic growth patterns in China. We calculated carbon productivity using panel data from BRICS and G7 countries between 2001 and 2019 and developed a methodology to estimate economic growth patterns by combining carbon productivity and economic growth. As the world’s top carbon emitter, China can combat global climate change by increasing carbon productivity. We show that (i) China has a high growth rate of carbon productivity; however, the carbon productivity level only accounts for about 20% of developed countries. (ii) When determining economic growth patterns from a low-carbon perspective, China has transitioned from high-carbon type II to low-carbon type III. However, low-carbon economic growth is common in developed countries, and (iii) it can improve carbon productivity by reducing energy-averaged carbon emission factors. It assists the government in determining how to implement low-carbon economic development policies by examining economic growth from a low-carbon perspective.

Keywords:

• Carbon peak
• carbon neutral
• carbon productivity
• economic growth pattern

JEL CLASSIFICATIONS:

• D24
• O47
• O57

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.