Assessment on the synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reductions in low-carbon city pilot policy: based on effectiveness and efficiency perspectives

This study focuses on the impacts of low-carbon city pilot policy (LCCP) on pollution and carbon emissions and synergistic emission reduction efficiency, and then explores whether it can realize the synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction. Based on the panel data of 282 cities in China from 2006 to 2019, this paper treats LCCP as a quasi-natural experiment and tests its effect using difference-in-differences model. The results show that LCCP reduces pollution and carbon emissions and improves synergistic emission reduction efficiency, realizing synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction. The policy effects are mainly realized through strengthening technological innovation, tertiary industry employment and human capital. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction of LCCP only exists in large cities and non-resource cities. Furthermore, LCCP promotes economic growth, so that it realizes the synergetic effect of pollution and carbon reduction without sacrificing GDP growth.