A study on China's economic growth, green energy technology, and carbon emissions based on the Kuznets curve (EKC)

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Feb;28(6):7200-7211. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-11019-0. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

Abstract

China's rapid economic development is unavoidably characterized by environmental pitfalls, especially the carbon dioxide emissions of greenhouse gases from the use of energy. Since there is a relationship between economic growth, energy consumption, and carbon emission, it is important to note that the continuous improvement and application of solar energy technology will play an active role in carbon emission reduction. Therefore, this paper uses the Kuznets curve to probe the relationship between economic growth, solar energy technology, and carbon emissions. The results show that solar energy technology, economic development level, and carbon emissions are all integrated at the second order with a long-run cointegration relationship. In the long-run, the relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions is inverted "U," which suggest that there is a turning point of carbon emissions, where the carbon emissions first increase with economic growth and then gradually decrease, which is reflected in the image as an inverted "U" curve. Also, the impact of economic factors on carbon emissions and the innovation of solar technology can negatively influence carbon emissions, and enhancing the innovation of solar technology has a positive effect on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Keywords: Carbon emission; Existence test of Kuznets curve (EKC); Granger causality; Solar energy; Technology.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / analysis
  • China
  • Economic Development*
  • Greenhouse Gases*
  • Technology

Substances

  • Greenhouse Gases
  • Carbon Dioxide