Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency Perspective

Industry is a major contributor to air pollution and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and a major force for reducing them. Based on the idea of improving the performance of the synergy effect “1 + 1 > 2”, this paper constructs a method that evaluates the synergistic effect of pollution and c...

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Main Authors: Zhiyuan Gao, Ziying Jia, Ying Zhao, Yu Hao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2413
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author Zhiyuan Gao
Ziying Jia
Ying Zhao
Yu Hao
author_facet Zhiyuan Gao
Ziying Jia
Ying Zhao
Yu Hao
author_sort Zhiyuan Gao
collection DOAJ
description Industry is a major contributor to air pollution and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and a major force for reducing them. Based on the idea of improving the performance of the synergy effect “1 + 1 > 2”, this paper constructs a method that evaluates the synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction (PCR) in terms of energy efficiency under the framework of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and analyzes the basic path of China’s synergistic effect of PCR from the viewpoint of energy efficiency. Based on the construction of a global non-radial directional distance function, we develop an emission performance measurement index for output factors. Furthermore, by comparing performance changes under individual and collaborative emission reduction scenarios, we establish an evaluation model for assessing the synergistic effects of PCR. The results show the following: (1) Collaboration between PCR enhances both the air pollution emission performance and carbon dioxide emission performance in China. (2) The synergistic effect of collaborative emission reduction is universal in different regions and provinces. However, the synergistic effect of PCR found in the east, central, and west has strong heterogeneity. (3) Different improvement pathways, such as prioritizing energy conservation or carbon mitigation, were designed to account for regional development disparities. Although these policy orientations can effectively enhance the synergy between pollution control and carbon mitigation, the extent of improvement varies considerably across regions.
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spelling doaj-art-8093fc2c0e594e6baa05d3f5824d63fc2025-08-20T01:56:31ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-05-011810241310.3390/en18102413Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency PerspectiveZhiyuan Gao0Ziying Jia1Ying Zhao2Yu Hao3School of Economics and Management, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Tarim University, Aral Shehri 843300, ChinaIndustry is a major contributor to air pollution and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and a major force for reducing them. Based on the idea of improving the performance of the synergy effect “1 + 1 > 2”, this paper constructs a method that evaluates the synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction (PCR) in terms of energy efficiency under the framework of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and analyzes the basic path of China’s synergistic effect of PCR from the viewpoint of energy efficiency. Based on the construction of a global non-radial directional distance function, we develop an emission performance measurement index for output factors. Furthermore, by comparing performance changes under individual and collaborative emission reduction scenarios, we establish an evaluation model for assessing the synergistic effects of PCR. The results show the following: (1) Collaboration between PCR enhances both the air pollution emission performance and carbon dioxide emission performance in China. (2) The synergistic effect of collaborative emission reduction is universal in different regions and provinces. However, the synergistic effect of PCR found in the east, central, and west has strong heterogeneity. (3) Different improvement pathways, such as prioritizing energy conservation or carbon mitigation, were designed to account for regional development disparities. Although these policy orientations can effectively enhance the synergy between pollution control and carbon mitigation, the extent of improvement varies considerably across regions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2413energy efficiencyreduce pollution and carbonsynergistic effectlifting path
spellingShingle Zhiyuan Gao
Ziying Jia
Ying Zhao
Yu Hao
Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency Perspective
Energies
energy efficiency
reduce pollution and carbon
synergistic effect
lifting path
title Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency Perspective
title_full Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency Perspective
title_fullStr Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency Perspective
title_short Enhancing the Synergistic Pathways of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR) in China: An Energy Efficiency Perspective
title_sort enhancing the synergistic pathways of industrial pollution and carbon reduction pcr in china an energy efficiency perspective
topic energy efficiency
reduce pollution and carbon
synergistic effect
lifting path
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2413
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AT yingzhao enhancingthesynergisticpathwaysofindustrialpollutionandcarbonreductionpcrinchinaanenergyefficiencyperspective
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