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Does high-speed rail reduce local CO2 emissions in China? A counterfactual approach

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  • Yan, Zhimin
  • Park, Sung Y.

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of high-speed rail (HSR) projects on CO2 emissions in targeted city nodes of four selected HSR lines/segments in China. We employ a panel data counterfactual approach to analyze the impact of HSR on local CO2 emissions using prefecture-level data. We consider 18 treatment cities and 10 control cities with no HSR to determine how the introduction of HSR affects CO2 emissions and analyze the factors that determined the disparity in HSR impacts. We find that CO2 emissions increased in the early construction period. However, HSR projects significantly and continuously decreased CO2 emissions for most treatment cities during the operation period. We also find that the CO2 reduction effect was larger in cities with more human capital and technological innovation. These findings provide empirical evidence that building HSR helps reduce CO2 emissions; governments should improve HSR technologies and expand HSR networks to promote environmentally friendly development.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan, Zhimin & Park, Sung Y., 2023. "Does high-speed rail reduce local CO2 emissions in China? A counterfactual approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:173:y:2023:i:c:s0301421522005900
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113371
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Yu & Zhao, Changyi & Chen, Shan & Chen, Wenqing & Wan, Kunyang & Wei, Jia, 2023. "Riding the green rails: Exploring the nexus between high-speed trains, green innovation, and carbon emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    High-speed rail; CO2 emissions; Panel data model; Counterfactual analysis; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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