How does ecological civilization construction affect carbon emission intensity?Evidence from Chinese provinces’panel data

摘要

Ecological civilization construction is a new concept and trend in the era of China's high-quality development.It requires the collaborative propulsion of an ecological economic civilization,ecological social civilization,and ecological environment civilization.Reducing carbon emission intensity is an important issue facing the Chinese government in the backdrop of global warming.Thus,studying the influence of ecological civilization construction on carbon emission intensity from different perspectives has important theoretical and practical significance.In this study,the influences of the three subsystems of an ecological civilization on carbon emission intensity are empirically analyzed using Chinese provincial panel data from 2004 to 2016 and a spatial Durbin model based on the STIRPAT model.First,the Moran's I of carbon emission intensity in Chinese provinces was between 0.425 and 0.473.This indicates positive spatial correlation and illustrates that the carbon emission intensity of China's provinces can influence each other.The reasons behind this correlation include close ties between neighboring provinces and similarities in natural,economic,and social characteristics.Second,the correlation coefficients of ecological economic civilization,ecological social civilization,and ecological environment civilization to carbon emission intensity are−4.743139,2.865884,and−0.3246447,respectively.This illustrates that an ecological economic civilization and ecological environment civilization can reduce carbon emission intensity,while an ecological social civilization can increase it.To reduce total carbon emission intensity,the three subsystems of ecological civilization should have a negative relationship with carbon emission intensity,so the effect of ecological social civilization on carbon emission intensity should be changed.Third,the spatial spillover effect of ecological social civilization did not pass the significance test.The correlation coefficients of spatial spillover effect to ecological economic civilization and ecological environment civilization are 2.046531 and−3.238323,respectively.Improving the ecological economic civilization can increase the carbon emission intensity of periphery provinces,while improving the ecological environment civilization can reduce it.Thus,it is necessary to enhance cooperation between periphery provinces and establish a trans-provincial cooperation mechanism for reducing carbon emissions.