Green innovation and China's CO2 emissions - the moderating effect of institutional quality

• Published in: Journal of environmental planning and management Vol. 65; no. 5; pp. 877 - 906
• Main Authors: Yuan, Baolong, Li, Chen, Yin, Hongyuan, Zeng, Meng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 16.04.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Air pollution; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; China; Emissions; Emissions control; environmental management; Environmental policy; exhibitions; green innovation; Innovations; institutional quality; Reduction; Site planning; sustainable technology; China
• ISSN: 0964-0568; 1360-0559; 1360-0559
• DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2021.1915260

China's economy is faced with mounting pressure to reduce CO 2 emissions. This study estimates the impact of green innovation and institutional quality on CO 2 emissions, and examines the moderating effect of institutional quality. The results show that: (1) Green innovation significantly reduced CO 2 emissions. Institutional quality has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between green innovation and CO 2 emissions, such that when institutional quality is high, green innovation has a stronger reduction in CO 2 emissions. (2) Green innovation significantly reduced CO 2 emissions in the eastern and western regions. Moreover, as institutional quality improves, the reduction of CO 2 emissions through green innovation increased in the western region. (3) Green innovation in 2013-2017 had a greater effect on CO 2 emissions reduction than 2005-2012. Moreover, with the improvement of institutional quality, green innovation's reduction of CO 2 emissions in 2005-2012 was weakened, whereas the reduction of CO 2 emissions by green innovation increased in 2013-2017.