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Does Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy Alleviate Urban Haze Pollution? Empirical Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China

Author

Listed:
  • Jinling Yan

    (College of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China
    Department of Science, Xinjiang Institute of Technology, Aksu 843100, China)

  • Junfeng Zhao

    (College of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China
    Institute of Higher Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China)

  • Xiaodong Yang

    (College of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China)

  • Xufeng Su

    (College of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China)

  • Hailing Wang

    (College of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China)

  • Qiying Ran

    (Department of Business and Economics, Shanghai Business School, Shanghai 200235, China
    Center for Innovation Management Research of Xinjiang, Urumqi 830047, China)

  • Jianliang Shen

    (Center for Arid Region Rural Development Research, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830047, China)

Abstract

As a comprehensive environmental regulation, the low-carbon city pilot policy (LCCP) may have an impact on haze pollution. The evaluation of the effectiveness of LCCP on haze pollution is greatly significant for air pollution prevention and control. Taking LCCP as the starting point, in this study we constructed DID, PSM-DID, and intermediary effect models to empirically test the impact and mechanism of LCCP on haze pollution, based on the panel data of 271 cities in China from 2005 to 2018. The findings show that (1) LCCP has significantly reduced the urban haze pollution, and the average annual concentration of PM2.5 in pilot cities decreased by 14.29%. (2) LCCP can inhibit haze pollution by promoting technological innovation, upgrading the industrial structure, and reducing energy consumption. Among these impacts, the effect of technological innovation is the strongest, followed by industrial structure, and energy consumption. (3) LCCP has significantly curbed the haze pollution of non-resource dependent cities, Eastern cities, and large cities, but exerted little impact on resource-dependent cities, Central and Western regions, and small and medium-sized cities. (4) LCCP has a spatial spillover effect. It can inhibit the haze pollution of adjacent cities through demonstration and warning effects. This study enriches the relevant research on LCCP and provides empirical support and policy enlightenment for pollution reduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinling Yan & Junfeng Zhao & Xiaodong Yang & Xufeng Su & Hailing Wang & Qiying Ran & Jianliang Shen, 2021. "Does Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy Alleviate Urban Haze Pollution? Empirical Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11287-:d:665984
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Yin & Jin Guo, 2022. "Ecological Effect Assessment of Low-Carbon City Construction in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Zhao, Junfeng & Yan, Jinling & Ran, Qiying & Yang, Xiaodong & Su, Xufeng & Shen, Jianliang, 2022. "Does the opening of high-speed railways improve urban livability? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PB).
    3. Yajun Zhu & Churen Sun, 2022. "Carbon Reduction, Pollution Intensity, and Firms’ Ratios of Value Added in Exports: Evidence from China’s Low-Carbon Pilot Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-26, October.
    4. Haotian Zhang & Xiumei Sun & Xueyang Wang & Su Yan, 2022. "Winning the Blue Sky Defense War: Assessing Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Based on Synthetic Control Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Zhaoxian Su & Yang Yang & Yun Wang & Pan Zhang & Xin Luo, 2023. "Study on Spatiotemporal Evolution Features and Affecting Factors of Collaborative Governance of Pollution Reduction and Carbon Abatement in Urban Agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-20, February.
    6. Yang, Shubo & Jahanger, Atif & Hossain, Mohammad Razib, 2023. "How effective has the low-carbon city pilot policy been as an environmental intervention in curbing pollution? Evidence from Chinese industrial enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    7. Shaohong Mu & Weixiu Li & Muhammad Mohiuddin, 2022. "The Impact of Low-Carbon City (LCC) on Elderly People’s Health: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, August.
    8. Xianghua Yue & Shikuan Zhao & Xin Ding & Long Xin, 2022. "How the Pilot Low-Carbon City Policy Promotes Urban Green Innovation: Based on Temporal-Spatial Dual Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Chuang Li & Qingqing Liu & Qing Li & Hailing Wang, 2022. "Does Innovative Industrial Agglomeration Promote Environmentally-Friendly Development? Evidence from Chinese Prefecture-Level Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.

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