The greenness of Chinese cities: carbon dioxide emission and its determinants

Abstract

This paper investigates carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission and its determinants in 286 Chinese cities. The findings strongly support an inverted U-shaped relationship between per capita CO₂ emission (PCE) and urban development. However, the realization of this relationship depends on stringent governmental policy interventions. The regression analysis in this paper shows that city size is positively correlated with CO₂ emission efficiency, but negatively correlated with PCE. This result suggests that population restrictions in large cities tend to increase CO₂ emission. It is also shown that regional development programs are likely to encourage economic activities in regions with low CO₂ emission efficiency and may have significant environmental consequences in the future.

Keywords:

• CO₂ emission
• greenness
• urban development
• Chinese cities

JEL codes:

• O53
• Q53
• Q58
• R11

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the editors and anonymous referees for helpful comments on earlier drafts of the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation [grant number 1333007], [grant number 71473105]; National Social Science Foundation [grant number 15ZDA054]; Jinan University's Institute of Resource, Environment and Sustainable Development Project [grant number 13JNIRESD01]

Notes on contributors

Jianxin Wu

Jianxin Wu is an associate professor at School of Economics and Institute of Resource, Environment and Sustainable Development, Jinan University. His research interests include energy and environmental economics, Chinese economy and international economics.

Yanrui Wu

Yanrui Wu is a professor of economics at Business School, University of Western Australia and a guest professor at the School of Economics, Jinan University. His research interests include energy and environmental economics, productivity analysis and the Chinese economy.

Bing Wang

Bing Wang is a professor at School of Economics and Institute of Resource, Environment and Sustainable Development, Jinan University. His research interests include energy and environmental economics, Chinese economy and productivity analysis.