Ziyuan Kexue (Aug 2023)
The “carbon curse” effect and its heterogeneity in cities of China
Abstract
[Objective] The term “carbon curse” outlines a situation where regions with abundant fossil fuel resources are more likely to pursue a carbon-intensive growth path than regions with scarce fossil fuel resources. This study examined the existence and variations of the “carbon curse” effect in China in order to extend the “carbon curse” theory to the city level. [Methods] By identifying Chinese fossil fuel cities, categorizing their energy types and development stages, and employing a variable coefficient fixed-effects model with panel data from prefecture-level cities from 2012 to 2017, this study aims to investigate the existence of the “carbon curse” effect at the urban level in China, as well as the varying degrees to which different fossil fuel cities are affected by the “carbon curse.” [Results] Compared to Chinese cities that relied on non-fossil energy sources, those that depended on fossil fuels were more likely to adopt carbon-intensive development strategies. Oil-gas cities, coal-oil-gas cities, and coal cities were in decreasing order of “carbon curse” severity according to the energy source of fossil fuel cities. Mature cities, regeneration cities, growing cities, and declining cities were ranked in decreasing order of "carbon curse"severity according to the development stages of fossil fuel cities. Taking control variables into account, high population density and government intervention in fossil fuel cities increased carbon intensity, and environmental regulations and foreign direct investment had no appreciable impact on lowering it. [Conclusion] The “carbon curse” phenomenon does in fact exist at the city level in China. Different energy sources and developmental stages of cities caused variations in this phenomenon, and it is necessary to further investigate the underlying mechanisms that caused these discrepancies.
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