A Configurational Approach to the Driving Forces for Synergistic Reduction in Pollution and Carbon Emissions

In the face of escalating environmental challenges, the imperative to reduce pollution and carbon emissions has never been more critical. Synergistic effects aimed at mitigating these pressing issues constitute the central concern of contemporary environmental governance and sustainable development in the global context. This paper adopts the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and a configurational perspective to identify three driving pathways for achieving synergistic reduction in pollution and carbon emission (SRPCE), using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach: the Dual-Wheel Type, the Well-Regulated Type, and the Effective Pull Type. The Dual-Wheel Type illustrates how combining these two strategies can lead to enhanced SRPCE. The Well-Regulated Type is driven by push factors while the Effective Pull Type is driven by pull factors. This study clarifies the interplay between front-end prevention and end-of-pipe treatment in environmental protection investments. It also broadens the understanding of environmental regulation’s impact on corporate environmental governance by highlighting the nuanced ways regulations shape organizational behavior. Finally, it advances research on synergistic effects by focusing on micro-enterprises. This research thus presents a comprehensive perspective on synergistic environmental effects and yields actionable insights, suggesting that the government can adopt synergistic policies while enterprises, through self-regulation and proactive management, can implement sustainable practices to achieve effective pollution reduction and carbon mitigation.