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The effects of urbanization and urban sprawl on CO2 emissions in China

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  • Zhonghua Cheng

    (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)

  • Xiaowen Hu

    (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)

Abstract

With the steady increase in urbanization that has occurred, China has begun to suffer from serious urban sprawl. Both the increase in urbanization and the subsequent urban sprawl have led to major changes in CO2 emissions. In this paper, we expand the STIRPAT model to empirically analyse the effects of China’s urbanization and urban sprawl on CO2 emissions from 1997 to 2018, with regression results showing that both urbanization and urban sprawl have increased CO2 emissions. Further analyses of the mechanisms indicate that urbanization can increase overall CO2 emissions by not only increasing industrial CO2 emissions, but also by increasing construction CO2 emissions and residential consumption CO2 emissions as well. Urban sprawl can increase overall carbon emissions by increasing CO2 emissions from transport, construction and industry. We then make specific suggestions for China’s carbon reduction and low-carbon development based on these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhonghua Cheng & Xiaowen Hu, 2023. "The effects of urbanization and urban sprawl on CO2 emissions in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1792-1808, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10668-022-02123-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02123-x
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    2. Zhang, HongWei & Ben, Fang & Qin, Meng, 2024. "Mineral resources, tourism, human capital, and carbon neutrality: A path towards balanced and sustainable development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Xu, Jiajun & Wang, Jinchao & Li, Rui & Yang, Xiaojun, 2023. "Spatio-temporal effects of urbanization on CO2 emissions: Evidences from 268 Chinese cities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).

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