2 Research on Urbanization and Low-Carbon Development in China
49
announcements of national economic and social development of prefecture level
cities.
2.3.2 Impact Mechanism of China’s Urbanization on Carbon
Emissions and Empirical Analysis
2.3.2.1 Urban Population Size and CO 2 Emissions
The expansion of urban population is an inevitable result of urbanization, with a
direct bearing on regional carbon dioxide emissions. Figure 2.7 shows that there is
a positive correlation between urban population and total carbon dioxide emissions.
The increase of urban dwellers will induce great changes in local lifestyle, industrial
structure, living environment, transportation and other aspects, and energy consumption would soar, in contrast to that in rural areas. Cities thus become the center of
regional carbon emission, holding the key to curbing greenhouse gas emission in
China.
On the other hand, the increase of the urban population is not entirely negative for
greenhouse gas emissions. Figure 2.8 revels that as urban population rises, per capita
carbon dioxide emissions are falling as a whole. This means the scale effect of cities is
somewhat helpful for curbing carbon emissions, as large cities are conducive to joint
construction infrastructure, connectivity of information and sharing of production
factors. Specifically, the impact of urban population on per capita carbon emissions
Urban population (ten thousand)
Carbon dioxide emissions (million ton)
Fig. 2.7 Scatter diagram of China’s urban population size and carbon emissions
49
announcements of national economic and social development of prefecture level
cities.
2.3.2 Impact Mechanism of China’s Urbanization on Carbon
Emissions and Empirical Analysis
2.3.2.1 Urban Population Size and CO 2 Emissions
The expansion of urban population is an inevitable result of urbanization, with a
direct bearing on regional carbon dioxide emissions. Figure 2.7 shows that there is
a positive correlation between urban population and total carbon dioxide emissions.
The increase of urban dwellers will induce great changes in local lifestyle, industrial
structure, living environment, transportation and other aspects, and energy consumption would soar, in contrast to that in rural areas. Cities thus become the center of
regional carbon emission, holding the key to curbing greenhouse gas emission in
China.
On the other hand, the increase of the urban population is not entirely negative for
greenhouse gas emissions. Figure 2.8 revels that as urban population rises, per capita
carbon dioxide emissions are falling as a whole. This means the scale effect of cities is
somewhat helpful for curbing carbon emissions, as large cities are conducive to joint
construction infrastructure, connectivity of information and sharing of production
factors. Specifically, the impact of urban population on per capita carbon emissions
Urban population (ten thousand)
Carbon dioxide emissions (million ton)
Fig. 2.7 Scatter diagram of China’s urban population size and carbon emissions