Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency

Global economic growth has led to substantial carbon dioxide emissions, positioning urban low-carbon transformation as a crucial strategy for addressing climate change. A scientific evaluation of low-carbon city (LCC) performance is vital for effective implementation. However, existing studies predo...

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Main Authors: Xiangrui Xu, Lu Chen, Xiaoyun Du, Qiaojing Chen, Renpeng Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24013050
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author Xiangrui Xu
Lu Chen
Xiaoyun Du
Qiaojing Chen
Renpeng Yuan
author_facet Xiangrui Xu
Lu Chen
Xiaoyun Du
Qiaojing Chen
Renpeng Yuan
author_sort Xiangrui Xu
collection DOAJ
description Global economic growth has led to substantial carbon dioxide emissions, positioning urban low-carbon transformation as a crucial strategy for addressing climate change. A scientific evaluation of low-carbon city (LCC) performance is vital for effective implementation. However, existing studies predominantly focus on assessing LCCs from a singular perspective of either effectiveness or efficiency, often neglecting a comprehensive consideration of both. To address this gap, this study employs Back Propagation (BP) Neural Network and three-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to conduct an empirical assessment of LCC performance in 35 mega-cities in China from both effectiveness and efficiency dimensions. The findings reveal that: (1) The dual-perspective evaluation method effectively reflects LCC performance from both process and outcome aspects; (2) In some regions, effectiveness and efficiency yield consistent results, indicating both are either high or low; conversely, in other regions, they exhibit complementarity, with instances of high effectiveness coupled with low efficiency, or vice versa; (3) Temporal analysis indicates a continuous improvement in LCC effectiveness over the study period, while efficiency demonstrates considerable fluctuations; (4) Spatial analysis highlights that cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen excel, whereas Taiyuan, Hefei, and Zhengzhou lag behind. This research offers essential policy insights for the construction of LCCs.
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spelling doaj-art-2c9d07e04f0f4ed5b867e32a4e69d74b2025-08-20T02:49:05ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2024-12-0116911284810.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112848Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiencyXiangrui Xu0Lu Chen1Xiaoyun Du2Qiaojing Chen3Renpeng Yuan4School of Spatial Planning and Design, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaSchool of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China; Corresponding author at: School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China.School of Management, Zhengzhou University, Henan, ChinaSchool of Systems Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaSchool of Systems Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaGlobal economic growth has led to substantial carbon dioxide emissions, positioning urban low-carbon transformation as a crucial strategy for addressing climate change. A scientific evaluation of low-carbon city (LCC) performance is vital for effective implementation. However, existing studies predominantly focus on assessing LCCs from a singular perspective of either effectiveness or efficiency, often neglecting a comprehensive consideration of both. To address this gap, this study employs Back Propagation (BP) Neural Network and three-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to conduct an empirical assessment of LCC performance in 35 mega-cities in China from both effectiveness and efficiency dimensions. The findings reveal that: (1) The dual-perspective evaluation method effectively reflects LCC performance from both process and outcome aspects; (2) In some regions, effectiveness and efficiency yield consistent results, indicating both are either high or low; conversely, in other regions, they exhibit complementarity, with instances of high effectiveness coupled with low efficiency, or vice versa; (3) Temporal analysis indicates a continuous improvement in LCC effectiveness over the study period, while efficiency demonstrates considerable fluctuations; (4) Spatial analysis highlights that cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen excel, whereas Taiyuan, Hefei, and Zhengzhou lag behind. This research offers essential policy insights for the construction of LCCs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24013050Low Carbon City (LCC)LCC effectivenessLCC efficiencyLCC evaluation model
spellingShingle Xiangrui Xu
Lu Chen
Xiaoyun Du
Qiaojing Chen
Renpeng Yuan
Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency
Ecological Indicators
Low Carbon City (LCC)
LCC effectiveness
LCC efficiency
LCC evaluation model
title Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency
title_full Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency
title_fullStr Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency
title_full_unstemmed Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency
title_short Development pathways for low carbon cities in China: A dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency
title_sort development pathways for low carbon cities in china a dual perspective of effectiveness and efficiency
topic Low Carbon City (LCC)
LCC effectiveness
LCC efficiency
LCC evaluation model
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24013050
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AT luchen developmentpathwaysforlowcarboncitiesinchinaadualperspectiveofeffectivenessandefficiency
AT xiaoyundu developmentpathwaysforlowcarboncitiesinchinaadualperspectiveofeffectivenessandefficiency
AT qiaojingchen developmentpathwaysforlowcarboncitiesinchinaadualperspectiveofeffectivenessandefficiency
AT renpengyuan developmentpathwaysforlowcarboncitiesinchinaadualperspectiveofeffectivenessandefficiency