ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Research on the Decoupling Relationship
between CO2 Emissions and Economic Growth
in Zhejiang Province
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1
School of Economics and Management/Zhejiang Academy of Ecological Civilization, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University,
Hangzhou 310018, China
2
East China Sea Institute/Collaborative Innovation Center of Port Economy, Ningbo University, China
3
Fashion Department of International United Faculty between Ningbo University and University
of Angers/Faculty of Tourism and Culture, Ningbo University, China
Submission date: 2021-08-20
Final revision date: 2021-10-26
Acceptance date: 2021-11-09
Online publication date: 2022-02-23
Publication date: 2022-04-06
Corresponding author
Yi Li
East China Sea Institute/Collaborative Innovation Center of Port Economy; Fashion Department of International United Faculty between Ningbo University and University of Angers/Faculty of Tourism and Culture, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(3):2039-2047
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ABSTRACT
Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are public commitments made by the Chinese government to
the world, and they are also the inherent requirements for achieving high-quality economic development
in China’s Provinces. On the basis of the data on Zhejiang Province from 2007 to 2019, this study
employs the Tapio decoupling analysis method and the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model to
represent speed decoupling and quantity decoupling. Moreover, this research examines the decoupling
relationship between Zhejiang Province’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and economic growth. The
analysis draws the following outcomes. (1) During the sample period, Zhejiang’s economic aggregate
and carbon emissions continued to grow, and the economic growth rate was significantly higher than
the growth rate of CO2 emissions. (2) The speed decoupling of CO2 emission and economic growth
in Zhejiang Province was in good condition, with weak decoupling at the provincial level and weak
decoupling and strong decoupling at the city level. (3) The EKC of Zhejiang Province was in the shape
of an inverted “N”. From 2007 to 2019, Zhejiang’s per capita GDP was between the two inflection
points. Moreover, no quantity decoupling occurred between CO2 emissions and economic growth.