Pathways of Regionally Coordinated Low-Carbon Development in China

Zhang Youguo1,2* and Bai Yujie2,3

1 Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Beijing, China

2 Center for Environment and Development Research, CASS

3 Chinese Society of Technology Economics (CSTE) , Beijing, China

Abstract: Carbon peak and carbon neutrality are both important goals in the Chinese government’s plans for future economic development. With heterogeneous resource endowments, economic and technological levels, and industrial structures across China’s many regions, regional differentiation can significantly affect the design of pathways toward achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Regionally coordinated low-carbon development may be the only way for the Chinese government to mitigate supply and demand imbalances in the distribution of energy resources and green technologies. China’s interregional energy industry and pollution abatement collaboration have also created conditions for regional collaboration in low-carbon development. Nevertheless, successful regional coordination for low-carbon development requires overcoming the institutional problems.

Keywords: Carbon peak, carbon neutrality, regional coordination, industrial structure, energy mix, green technologies, low-carbon technologies

JEL Classification Code: Q54, Q55, Q56, R11

DOI: 10.19602/j.chinaeconomist.2022.03.04