What the study found
Environmental decentralization under China’s carbon emissions trading pilot policy was found to hinder energy eco-efficiency, according to the authors. The study also reports that some positive secondary and spillover effects were present, especially in relation to carbon trading.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that their findings matter for balancing economic development and ecological efficiency. They suggest measures including a multilevel environmental governance system, better policy coherence, cleaner energy technologies, a more advanced industrial structure, and stronger interregional cooperation.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analysed panel data from 257 Chinese cities covering 2007 to 2020. They used a super efficiency SBM model to measure energy ecological efficiency, the entropy method to build an environmental decentralization index, and a difference-in-differences (DID) model with interaction terms, along with fixed effects and mediation effect models.
What worked and what didn't
The findings suggest that decentralization associated with the carbon emissions trading pilot policy had a negative direct effect on energy efficiency. The mechanistic analysis indicates that the adverse effects mainly operated through technological upgrading and industrial restructuring, and threshold regression results suggest the negative effects became stronger after industrial upgrading passed a threshold. The paper also reports positive secondary and spillover effects, particularly related to carbon trading.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not provide detailed limitations beyond the scope of the data and models used. The study is based on Chinese city-level panel data and a specific carbon emissions trading pilot policy, so its findings are framed within that context.
Key points
- Environmental decentralization under the carbon emissions trading pilot policy was reported to hinder energy eco-efficiency.
- The study found adverse effects mainly through technological upgrading and industrial restructuring.
- Threshold regression suggested the negative effects became stronger after industrial upgrading passed a threshold.
- Some positive secondary and spillover effects were also reported, especially in relation to carbon trading.
- The analysis used data from 257 Chinese cities from 2007 to 2020.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Carbon trading decentralization hindered energy eco-efficiency
- Authors:
- Zhaoyang Lu, Jianglai Dong, Diao Gou, Hailong Feng, Nan Li
- Institutions:
- Southwest University of Political Science & Law
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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