Decoupling economic growth from industrial SO2 emissions in China: A two-stage decomposition approach

Exploring the factors driving the decoupling of China’s sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from economic growth (DEI) is crucial for achieving sustainable development. By analyzing the decoupling indicators and driving factors at both the generation and treatment stages of SO₂, more effective targeted mitigation strategies can be developed. We employ the Tapio decoupling model and propose a two-stage method to examine the decoupling issues related to SO₂. Our findings indicate that: ① DEI shows a steady and significant improvement, with SO₂ emission intensity identified as the primary driver. ② for the decoupling of economic growth and SO₂ generation, energy scale serves as the largest stimulator, while the effect of energy intensity changes from negative to positive, and pollution intensity is first positive and then negative. ③ For the decoupling of SO₂ generation and SO₂ removal, treatment efficiency leads as the largest promoter, followed by treatment intensity. Based on these results, this study recommends that China focuses more on enhancing clean energy utilization and the effectiveness of treatment processes.