China's low-carbon technology trade: Facts and implications

IF 5.5 1区经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS

中国经济评论 Pub Date : 2025-05-28 DOI:10.1016/j.chieco.2025.102445

Kevin P. Gallagher , Renliang Liu , Jiaqi Lu , Ruyu Yin , Miaojie Yu , Praveena Bandara

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Abstract

This study examines China's evolving role in global low-carbon technology (LCT) trade and its impact on climate mitigation. The novel data suggests China's transition from a net importer to a net exporter of LCTs over the past three decades. Employing a gravity-equation framework, we identify the economic and institutional factors that drive bilateral LCT flows. Fixed-effects regressions show that China's LCT exports significantly reduce partner-country CO₂ emissions, measured in total, per-capita, and intensity terms, and that these reductions are larger for high-income partners and for the energy-storage and pollution-control LCTs. We further find that partner-country human capital, political stability, and development assistance amplify these environmental benefits. We conclude with policy recommendations including sustained R&D investment, stable export prices, encouragement of outward FDI, further trade liberalization and improved international dialogue on capacity issues to advance global sustainable trade and decarbonization.

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中国的低碳技术贸易：事实与启示

本研究考察了中国在全球低碳技术（LCT）贸易中的角色演变及其对减缓气候变化的影响。这些新数据表明，在过去30年里，中国从低碳燃料净进口国转变为净出口国。采用重力方程框架，我们确定了推动双边LCT流动的经济和制度因素。固定效应回归表明，中国的低碳技术出口显著降低了伙伴国的二氧化碳排放量（以总量、人均和强度衡量），而且高收入伙伴国以及储能和污染控制低碳技术国家的减排幅度更大。我们进一步发现，伙伴国家的人力资本、政治稳定和发展援助放大了这些环境效益。最后，我们提出了政策建议，包括持续的研发投资、稳定的出口价格、鼓励对外直接投资、进一步的贸易自由化和加强有关能力问题的国际对话，以促进全球可持续贸易和脱碳。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

中国经济评论 ECONOMICS-

CiteScore

10.60

自引率

4.40%

发文量

380

期刊介绍： The China Economic Review publishes original works of scholarship which add to the knowledge of the economy of China and to economies as a discipline. We seek, in particular, papers dealing with policy, performance and institutional change. Empirical papers normally use a formal model, a data set, and standard statistical techniques. Submissions are subjected to double-blind peer review.