Examining the influences of urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions in the Yangtze River Delta, China: Kuznets curve relationship

Exploring the impacts of urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions is a task that is of great significance in efforts to build low-carbon cities in China. While existing literature has identified links between carbon dioxide emissions and urbanization, the impacts of various mechanisms in various urbanization subsystems (economic, demographic, spatial, and social urbanization) on carbon dioxide emissions remain largely unexplored. This study conducts a comprehensive assessment of the multiple effects of urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions in the Yangtze River Delta, based on city panel remote sensing and statistical data covering the years 1992 to 2013. A stepwise panel data model was applied in combination with environmental Kuznets curve theory, so as to address four aspects of urbanization. The results show that carbon dioxide emissions increased notably in the Yangtze River Delta from 141.01 million tons in 1992 to 1448.28 million tons in 2013, and Shanghai and Suzhou were the largest two emitters in region. The impacts of urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions varied with different subsystems of urbanization. Economic urbanization exerted a positive impact in relation to carbon dioxide emissions with the relation between carbon dioxide emissions and gross domestic product per capita showing a Kuznets curve association. Population urbanization has exerted two opposing effects on carbon dioxide emissions, and population density and the proportion of urban population play a negative and positive role respectively. Spatial urbanization was here positively associated with carbon dioxide emissions, a result of the effects of the construction of new infrastructures and the conversion of existing land uses. Social urbanization demonstrated negative correlations in relation to emissions, mainly by improving low-carbon awareness in the general public. The effects of social consumption were insignificant. In addition, a number of control variables were also estimated to have varied effects on carbon dioxide emissions. The different influences of urbanization must, our findings indicate be considered in the task of formulating emission reduction measures for the Yangtze River Delta. Our analysis casts new light on the importance of exploring the multiple effects of urbanization in relation to emissions, knowledge which is vital to building low-carbon cities.