Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Convergence Trends of Green Innovation in China: An Analysis using the EBM-GML Model
摘要
Green innovation (GI) emerges as a pivotal element in balancing economic growth and ecological stability. This study quantifies China's GI from 2001–2019 using EBM-GML methodology, assessing its spatio-temporal distribution and convergence with Dagum Gini coefficient, Kernel density, and a convergence model. The results show that: (1) China’s GI displays a two-phase development characteristic with a slow increase before 2013 and a notable rise thereafter. Furthermore, green technology progress consistently shows an upward development trend throughout the study period, while green innovation efficiency performs poorly in both phases. (2) GI exhibits a pronounced spatial distribution, with higher intensity in the east and lower prevalence in the west, including significant polarization of GI in the east. (3) The main factors contributing to regional imbalances in GI development are identified as between-region variance, closely followed by within-region variance. (4) China's GI exhibits a convergence trend, indicating that, regional disparities in GI across the country are gradually diminishing over the long term, and this convergence characteristic is particularly pronounced in the western region. Through revealing the spatial and temporal dynamics of GI, this study establishes a foundation for promoting regional coordination and comprehensive development of GI.