From green consumption to carbon inclusion: An examination of the Chinese government's adoption and implementation of climate policies

Abstract

This study examines carbon inclusion as an innovative policy mechanism for addressing consumer-side emissions within industrial ecosystems. Carbon inclusion quantifies and incentivizes individual low-carbon behaviors, bridging consumer choices and industrial transformation. Using longitudinal analysis of China's green consumption and carbon inclusion policies (2013–2024), combined with text mining and expert interviews, we investigate how carbon inclusion complements broader green consumption initiatives. Findings reveal that green consumption policies focused on a wide range of themes, while carbon inclusion policies emphasized digital platforms, emission reduction projects, and public participation, forming market-oriented connections between consumer behavior and industrial systems. While green consumption relies on regulatory and economic instruments across diverse themes, carbon inclusion emphasizes network-based and communicative approaches to foster climate engagement. It extends industrial ecology into consumption by translating individual behaviors in areas like transport, food, and housing into measurable carbon credits circulating within the economy. Implementation across multiple Chinese cities demonstrates various governance models, including those led by government, financial institutions, and enterprises. Both policy types could benefit from innovative instruments such as green nudges to increase effectiveness. Carbon inclusion represents a promising framework for integrating individual actions with industrial ecology, contributing to a sustainable system transformation by linking behavior change with structural shifts.