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Does export product diversification reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in China? A regional analysis

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Abstract

Sulfur dioxide emissions are a major source of pollution in the environment as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal, which is the primary source of sulfur dioxide. These emissions can be mitigated by different factors such as the use of renewable energy, the installation of scrubbers, technological innovation, and the development of new energy-efficient products. Our study investigates the impact of export product diversification on sulfur dioxide emissions in China and across its regions. Using province panel data (2009 to 2019) regression with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors, we found that export product diversification reduces sulfur dioxide emissions. Furthermore, our findings are robust after the inclusion of several controls such as technological innovations, urbanization, energy consumption, and economic growth. The policy insinuation is that the government should introduce policies that encourage export product diversification in order to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions.

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Data used in this study are available on www.stats.gov.cn

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainability Management Program, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Korea

    S. Dou

  2. Department of Economics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

    J. Ul-Haq & S. Khanum

  3. School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, 100029, China

    H. Visas

  4. School of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China

    B. Aslam

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  1. S. Dou
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  2. J. Ul-Haq
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  3. H. Visas
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  4. B. Aslam
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  5. S. Khanum
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Contributions

The conceptualization was done by SD and JH. Data were collected by SD and JH, and were arranged and transformed into Stata formed by JH and HV. JH, SD, and BA finalized the methodology for analysis and analysis. SD, SK, and BA wrote the original draft and HV improved the draft. JH, HV, and SK reviewed and edited. HV and JH supervised the whole study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to H. Visas.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Editorial responsibility: Josef Trögl.

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Table 6 Chinese regions for the study
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Dou, S., Ul-Haq, J., Visas, H. et al. Does export product diversification reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in China? A regional analysis. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 6247–6258 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04353-y

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