Who Drives Policy Discourse of China’s Energy Transition: Considering Time Series Perspective, Network and Core-Peripheral Analysis

• Published in: SAGE open Vol. 14; no. 2
• Main Authors: Sung, Bongsuk, Chen, Hong, Park, Sang Do
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2024; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Area planning & development; Data mining; Digital transformation; Energy; Literature Reviews; Network Analysis; Private Sector; Regional development; Regional planning; Sustainable Development; China; policy discourse; diversification of participants; CONCOR; convergence of environmental issues; China’s energy transition; core-peripheral analysis
• ISSN: 2158-2440; 2158-2440
• DOI: 10.1177/21582440241240862

China’s energy transition (CET) is a vital foundation and long-term goal for improving sustainable development potential. Exploring development patterns and core driving actors involved in policy discourse (PD) is effective in suggesting future policy directions by finding the universality and specificity of China in the energy transition process. In this study, we examined the change pattern of CET and the change of keywords for actors involved in policy promotion at a macro level. Text data of over 22 years were collected from Chinese online channels with CET as the subject word. A text mining-based network analysis and core-peripheral analysis were performed by building datasets in units of the five-year plan (FYP). Following network analysis, the pattern of PD in CET process indicated a tendency to gradually converge toward diversified participants and global environmental issues. Core-peripheral analysis results revealed that the actors leading the PD changed from the government to the private sector, and the core issue indicated a shift from a domestic energy issue to an international environmental issue. Based on our analysis results, we suggested three dimensions of direction in CET: integration with digital transformation, expansion of the employment ecosystem, and inducement of balanced regional development. Plain Language Summary This study explores the discourse surrounding China’s energy transition policy at a macro level, uncovering prevalent patterns and actors within this discourse. - Through an extensive literature review, this study identifies three distinct research spectrums and formulates research questions derived from them. - Employing methodologies such as text mining, network analysis, and core-surrounding analysis, this study analyzes unstructured data. - The analysis results demonstrate a gradual convergence of China’s energy transition, involving diverse stakeholders and global environmental concerns. - Furthermore, the key figures driving discussions on China’s energy transition policy are shifting from governmental entities to the private sector. Notably, the central concern is transitioning domestic energy issues into global energy considerations. - Building upon the findings, this study proposes three pathways for the energy transition process: integration with digital transformation, expansion of the employment ecosystem, and fostering balanced regional development.