Examining the Development of China’s Low-Carbon Pilots: A Perspective of Non-Technological Innovation

• Published in: Chinese journal of urban and environmental studies (Print) Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 2150012 - 128
• Main Authors: SUN, Huilin, JIANG, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London World Scientific Publishing Company 01.06.2021; 社会科学文献出版社; World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte., Ltd; World Scientific Publishing
• Subjects: Carbon; Cities; Climate change; Continuous improvement; Dependent variables; governance; Independent variables; Innovations; non-technological innovation; Productivity; Technological change; China; non-technological innovation; Climate change; governance; China's low-carbon pilot cities
• ISSN: 2345-7481; 2345-752X
• DOI: 10.1142/S2345748121500123

This paper explores the non-technological innovation system for building low-carbon cities in China. It establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system and grading standards for low-carbon cities, concerning both technological innovation and non-technological innovation factors. Defining non-technological innovation factors as independent variables, GDP per capita as the main control variable, and low-carbon development and carbon productivity as dependent variables, this paper examines the contribution of non-technological innovation to the building of low-carbon cities. The result shows that non-technological innovation manifested a significant trajectory of progress. It demonstrates that the continuous improvement to non-technological innovation system should effectively promote the further development of low-carbon cities.