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The impact of energy conservation and emission reduction (ECER) policies on domestic waste control has not been determined. Previous papers have focused predominantly on industrial pollution rather than domestic waste control. To fill this gap, this paper evaluates the impact of the ECER demonstration city policy on domestic waste control based on Chinese city-level data from 2010 to 2020 using a staggered difference-in-differences model. This paper finds that the implementation of the policy has significantly increased the amount of urban domestic waste removed and the capacity for harmless disposal. A comprehensive examination of possible mechanisms reveals that ECER demonstration cities have achieved improved domestic waste control through channels such as increased government inputs in waste control, the promotion of green lifestyles among residents, and the promotion of technological advances in waste control. Detailed heterogeneity analyses reveal that the positive impact of the policy on domestic waste control is greater in cities at a high level in the administrative hierarchy, in eastern cities, and in large cities. This study has strong practical significance, as it provides insights supporting differentiated efforts to promote the construction of ECER demonstration cities and guidance for improving domestic waste control capacity by exploiting ECER policies. • ECER demonstration cities contribute to the improvement of the domestic waste control capacity. • This policy works by increasing government inputs. • This policy works by promoting the transformation of residents' lifestyles. • This policy works promoting the advancement of waste disposal technology. • The effects of ECER demonstration cities vary with the rank, location and size of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Low carbon cities. What, exactly, are we talking about? Are we talking about lifestyles, activities, or enterprises? Are we talking about individual or group voluntary behavior change or a policy framework that seeks to encourage behavior change by regulatory force? Faced with an enormous literature that mixes related topics like sustainable development/climate change/energy conservation/low carbon, it is not surprising to hear about local governments’ or planners’ “climate change initiatives”. This paper describes/reflects on how officials in Broward County, Florida, are dealing with issues of awareness, governance, measurement, and instruments for challenges arising from the combined threats of energy depletion and climate change. The overriding objective of this paper is to provide some pith for the discussion of planning for low carbon cities. To this end, we describe and reflect on the planning management responses of Broward County, Florida, USA – as an illustrative local government – in dealing with climate change challenges (CCC), energy conservation (EC) and greenhouse gas reduction (GHG). Both description and reflection are important as it is primarily the latter that provides the critical perspective necessary for assessing both potential and effect. The paper is organized into five sections. The first two sections address the “contextual” questions raised above: what is the level of knowledge and/or awareness among the collection of planners and/or local governments; and, what are/is appropriate responses of different levels of government. In the next section, we review overall levels of knowledge and awareness of basic science and policy dimensions, with particular attention paid to (a version of the) US planning profession. This is followed by a discussion of “theoretical” prescriptions for actions at different levels of government. The third and fourth sections focus on Broward County. The third section describes the county and presents a current measurement of its carbon footprint (at least at the level to which it can be measured). The fourth section describes the operational response of Broward County government. The final section returns to the original questions of knowledge and appropriate types of responses and argues that while the Broward response is generally effective in certain aspects, the current policy paradigm contains both strengths and weaknesses, which are generally outlined and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]