Does China's low-carbon action reduce pollution emissions? A quasi-natural experiment based on the low-carbon city construction

Abstract

To achieve the goal of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality", it is crucial for China to effectively control environmental pollution in low-carbon action (LCA). Based on the evidence from 283 cities in China from 2007 to 2019, the difference-in-differences (DID) method is applied to explore the impact of LCA on pollutant emissions represented by the pilot of low-carbon city construction (LCCC) in China. The main findings are as follows. First of all, the LCCC suppresses pollution emissions, and the basic conclusions are still stable after endogenous treatment and robustness testing. Secondly, the mechanism analysis reveals that the main path of LCCC affecting pollution reduction comes from the progress of green technology and the upgrading of industrial structure. Finally, the heterogeneity analysis shows that the pollution reduction effect of the LCCC is better in the eastern region and cities with higher level of green economy development. Based on the policy standpoint of environmental protection, the LCCC has opened up a reasonable exploration path for China and other countries in the world to carry out effective pollution reduction.

Keywords: Low-carbon city construction; Pollution emissions; Progress of green technology; Upgrading of industrial structure.