Quantifying the environmental benefits of green development: A carbon emission reduction analysis of air logistics in airport-type national logistics hub cities

Abstract

Improving the efficiency of aviation logistics and enhancing the green development level of national airport logistics hub cities is an effective way to achieve low-carbon development of aviation industry. This study takes 23 airport-type national logistics hub cities as the research object, calculates the carbon emissions generated in the process of air logistics transportation from 2010 to 2022. The study constructs an index for the green development level of city-level aviation logistics. It uses super-efficiency slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis to dynamically measure the green development level of aviation logistics in airport-type national logistics hub cities. On this basis, the study deeply analyzes the spatial differentiation characteristics of the air logistics green development level of different airport logistics hub cities and puts forward multi-dimensional policy recommendations. The results are as follows: (1) Since 2010, the total carbon emissions of aviation logistics in airport-type national logistics hub cities have been increasing year by year, especially in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, and Chengdu. The carbon emissions of aviation logistics in different economic zones differ greatly, showing the characteristics of East > West > Central > Northeast. (2) The green development level of air logistics in different airport-type national logistics hub cities is gradually rising, relatively maintaining a stable state, but the difference is large. (3) Negative spatial autocorrelation exists in the green development level of air logistics in different cities. No significant spatial clustering features appear. This study puts forward policy recommendations to promote the low-carbon development.