Environmental policies and low-carbon industrial upgrading: Heterogenous effects among policies, sectors, and technologies in China

Li, K; Qi, S; Shi, X

Environmental policies and low-carbon industrial upgrading: Heterogenous effects among policies, sectors, and technologies in China

Li, K Qi, S Shi, X

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2023, 191
Issue Date:: 2023-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Li, K
dc.contributor.author	Qi, S
dc.contributor.author	Shi, X https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9653-7395
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-18T05:54:07Z
dc.date.available	2024-03-18T05:54:07Z
dc.date.issued	2023-06-01
dc.identifier.citation	Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2023, 191
dc.identifier.issn	0040-1625
dc.identifier.issn	1873-5509
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176861
dc.description.abstract	Low-carbon industrial upgrading is a central means to achieve long-term climate change mitigation and sustainable industrial development. Yet the empirical evidence on the effects of environmental policies on low-carbon industrial upgrading remains relatively rare, and the analysis of channels is unexamined. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2016, this paper has contributed to the literature by testing the impacts of four distinct environmental policies on low-carbon upgrading and their possible channels. We found that energy-saving goals (ESGs) and new energy subsidies (NESs) promoted low-carbon upgrading, while pollution discharge fees (PDFs) restrained low-carbon upgrading and emission trading schemes (ETSs) had no impact. These conclusions were still tenable after a series of robustness tests. Channel analysis reveals that ESGs realized both low-carbon innovation and high-carbon industry restructuring (especially reflected in manufacturing), NESs were effective, but only in directing innovation. PDFs did not improve low-carbon upgrading, possibly due to their negative effects in low-carbon fields (including two sub-fields: energy efficiency and renewable energy). The restructuring and innovative effects of ETSs were insignificant. Finally, this paper put forward several policy implementations, including the promotion of market mechanisms, more strict law enforcement, and low-carbon industry development.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
dc.relation.ispartof	Technological Forecasting and Social Change
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122468
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	10 Technology, 14 Economics, 15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
dc.subject.classification	Science Studies
dc.subject.classification	35 Commerce, management, tourism and services
dc.subject.classification	38 Economics
dc.title	Environmental policies and low-carbon industrial upgrading: Heterogenous effects among policies, sectors, and technologies in China
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	191
utslib.for	10 Technology
utslib.for	14 Economics
utslib.for	15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (International)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (International)/Australia-China Relations Institute
utslib.copyright.status	embargoed	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2025-06-01T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2024-03-18T05:54:06Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	191

Abstract:

Low-carbon industrial upgrading is a central means to achieve long-term climate change mitigation and sustainable industrial development. Yet the empirical evidence on the effects of environmental policies on low-carbon industrial upgrading remains relatively rare, and the analysis of channels is unexamined. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2016, this paper has contributed to the literature by testing the impacts of four distinct environmental policies on low-carbon upgrading and their possible channels. We found that energy-saving goals (ESGs) and new energy subsidies (NESs) promoted low-carbon upgrading, while pollution discharge fees (PDFs) restrained low-carbon upgrading and emission trading schemes (ETSs) had no impact. These conclusions were still tenable after a series of robustness tests. Channel analysis reveals that ESGs realized both low-carbon innovation and high-carbon industry restructuring (especially reflected in manufacturing), NESs were effective, but only in directing innovation. PDFs did not improve low-carbon upgrading, possibly due to their negative effects in low-carbon fields (including two sub-fields: energy efficiency and renewable energy). The restructuring and innovative effects of ETSs were insignificant. Finally, this paper put forward several policy implementations, including the promotion of market mechanisms, more strict law enforcement, and low-carbon industry development.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176861