Heterogeneity analysis of carbon intensity influence factor and low carbon economy path in east of China

This study expands the STIRPAT framework and utilizes mechanistic analysis and spatiotemporal heterogeneity analysis to examine the impact of market integration on carbon emission intensity and heterogeneity in East China. The findings reveal that market integrations play a significant role in reducing carbon emission intensity, and tax environment, urbanization, and consumption power prove to be important mechanism factors. The average treatment effect of industrial structure and energy structure also positively promotes emission reduction efforts. However, market integration coupling coordination degree, technology level, and the gap in high-quality development act as inhibiting factors on carbon emission intensity. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal heterogeneous evolution trend demonstrates distinct and evident agglomeration patterns among economic regions. To effectively leverage the unified large market mechanism to reduce carbon emission intensity, it is essential to consider the regional characteristics of different influencing factors and also focus on the role of important node cities in driving emission reduction efforts.