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A CGE analysis of carbon market impact on CO2 emission reduction in China: a technology-led approach

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Abstract

To offer a scientific basis and reference for policy makers when developing the regulation framework for Chinese national carbon market, this research analyzes the environmental and economic effects of the carbon market from a mid- to long-term perspective in China. Through a computable general equilibrium model, with technological progress as an endogenous variable, this study provides a comprehensive investigation on the relationships between the price of carbon, technological development, emission reduction and economic growth in low, mid- and high emission reduction scenarios. Furthermore, it analyzes the potential of price-setting mitigation measures to create incentives for technological progress. The results indicate that the carbon market will have a positive impact on the R&D investment in China and in turn would promote technology development. Consequently, it is vital that the carbon price is high enough; otherwise, the pressure on technological development will not be sufficiently strong; there is compatibility between carbon intensity reduction and mid- and long-term GDP growth, but it seems impossible to realize the positive effects on both emission reduction and economy development at the early stage. Hence, the carbon market alone will not be a cost-effective instrument for emission abatement and other auxiliary policies will also be needed in the early stages. Meanwhile, selection of reasonable emission reduction scenarios will play a crucial role in achieving the pre-2020 and post-2020 carbon reduction commitments efficiently in China.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 71203008 and 70973011) and Funding Project of Education Ministry of China for the Development of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (No. 11YJA630119). The authors would like to extend special thanks to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions for improving the quality of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Lin Yang

  2. Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Sinopec Group, Beijing, 100101, China

    Yunfei Yao

  3. The Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21, Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100038, China

    Jiutian Zhang & Xian Zhang

  4. Geo-Energy Research Centre and School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Karl J. McAlinden

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  1. Lin Yang
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  4. Xian Zhang
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  5. Karl J. McAlinden
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Correspondence to Xian Zhang.

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Yang, L., Yao, Y., Zhang, J. et al. A CGE analysis of carbon market impact on CO2 emission reduction in China: a technology-led approach. Nat Hazards 81, 1107–1128 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-2122-y

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