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Under the background of high-quality development, the e-commerce industry needs to seek more comprehensive development, and the logistics industry should not only maintain higher efficiency, but also meet the requirements of green and low-carbon transportation. This study aims to investigate the link between the logistic density and the proportion of e-commerce transaction scale. There are few studies on how logistics density affects the development of e-commerce quantitatively. In order to solve this gap, this study establishes an impact model of high-quality growth of e-commerce, and based on Solow production model, constructs a calculation method of logistics density, and analyzes the impact mechanism of logistics density on the scale ratio of e-commerce transactions. Using the bidirectional fixed effect model, this paper makes an empirical analysis of the panel data of 31 provinces consisting of 248 observations and autonomous regions in China from 2014 to 2020. The results show that logistic density has a positive and significant impact on the growth of e-commerce, thus promoting the optimization of economic structure. The acceleration of logistics density decreases the expansion of the ecommerce. Finally, there are obvious regional differences between the development of e-commerce and logistics infrastructure in China. Finally, based on the empirical result, this paper puts forward recommendations for government and companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the digital era, digitalization brings great opportunities and challenges for cities' environmental governance and economic growth. However, it is worth noting that the impact of digitalization on cities' green transition has not been studied from the perspective of Metcalfe's Law. This paper uses the principal component method and non-radial directional distance function (NDDF) to calculate the digital development level and the green economic performance of 269 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2019. (1) The empirical findings demonstrate that digitalization has become a strong driver for cities' green economic transformation. (2) Digitalization indirectly promotes green transition through industrial structure optimization and green technological innovation. (3) The heterogeneity results show that the positive effect of digitalization on green development is more obvious in eastern and economically developed cities. (4) Using the partially linear functional-coefficient model (PLFC), this paper studies the non-linear nexus between digitalization and green economic transition from the perspective of Metcalfe's Law. Thus, Metcalfe's law is confirmed in the green transition of Chinese cities. Some policy recommendations are offered for realizing the coordinated development of digitalization and greening of the urban economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable economy through the rational spatial expansion of coastal areas is an increasingly essential global topic. This paper aims to explore the mechanism by which supporting cities influence the spatial expansion of economic development zones (EDZs) in 264 coastal EDZs of China during 1995–2020. Meanwhile, the effects of variations in the distance between supporting cities and coastal EDZs and different city scales are considered. The results provide new explanations for realizing the sustainable development of the coastal economy by planning EDZs at a suitable location from the supporting city. The supporting cities' economic strength can significantly contribute to the spatial expansion of coastal EDZs. The influence shows a distance decay law when the distance is less than 47.692 km, between 47.692 and 58.039 km, and greater than 58.039 km, with impact coefficients of 0.479, 0.393, and 0.212, respectively. The average spatial scale of coastal EDZs varies in an "inverted U–shape" with increasing distance. The average spatial scale of the urban general radiation type (47.692 km ≤ distance <58.039 km) is the largest. Supporting cities' scale affects the economic radiation range of supporting cities. The results suggest three implications for the future development of coastal EDZs. 1) Building the EDZ while incorporating practical development needs; 2) Scientifically planning the spatial layout of EDZs; 3) The synergistic development of supporting cities, transportation hubs, and EDZs. [Display omitted] • Supporting cities can promote coastal economic development zones' expansion. • The contribution of supporting cities to zone expansion shows a distance decay law. • The average spatial scale of coastal zones shows an "inverted U-shaped" change. • Supporting cities scale affects the economic radiation range by supporting cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been rapidly growing interest in Innovation Districts (ID) in urban policy and practice. IDs are touted as catalysts for innovation and economic development involving a wide range of stakeholders often in under-performing neighbourhoods or precincts. Despite the appeal, critique is forming around their linear understanding of innovation, the narrow focus of economic goals and lack of directionality in addressing grand societal challenges. This paper proposes the concept of Mission-Oriented Innovation Districts (MOID). MOID are thought to help design, shape and drive transformative change from a place-based perspective. Methodologically, this paper conceptually reviews antecedents of and draws on a structured search and scoping review of the two popular but disjointed literatures on ID and Mission-Oriented Innovation (MOI). Drawing on an analysis of 99 journal articles, this paper seeks to provide a better understanding about differences and common grounds of the two strands of literature. Five analytical categories are developed and applied to assess and interpret insights from existing publications: (1) understandings, definitions, and objectives; (2) theoretical-conceptual underpinnings; (3) analytical and methodological approaches; (4) evaluation; and (5) governance. We find that there is ample opportunity for cross-fertilization of insights across these two literatures. Based on this in-depth analysis, the contours of a new concept of MOID are outlined through a formal definition of MOID and insights from the analysis are translated into future research questions to inform a transformative agenda for innovation policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, China formally proposed the goal of achieving carbon peaking in 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality in 2060. Since then, widespread attention has been devoted to determining when and how this goal will be achieved. This paper creatively puts forward the view of low-carbon digital economy from the perspective of resource flow, digital flow and energy flow, and studies the synergy effect of low-carbon digital development by constructing the synergy model of low-carbon digital development economic and social development. Based on theoretical research, this paper constructs a synergy model and evaluation index system between low-carbon digital development and economic and social development, and an empirical analysis was conducted based on data related to regional low-carbon digital development and economic and social development in China from 2014 to 2019. The empirical results show that the development of China's low-carbon digital economy is the main driving force for future economic and social development. The effects of low-carbon digital economy on economic and social development varied across regions due to their different regional development patterns. The spatial pattern shows a trend of "high in the east and low in the west". Further, if the low carbon economy and the digital economy included in the stimulus policies can play a synergistic role, it will be able to play the greatest role in promoting economic and social development. And such a scenario is used as a practice in different regions of China in future. The research conclusion of this paper enriches the discussion on the construction of ecological civilization and the construction of a community with a common future for mankind. The conceptualized model of low-carbon digital economy and economic-social development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality economic development focuses on achieving effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, which is the essential way for China to achieve sustainable development. This paper aims to investigate the role of financial development in the impact of foreign direct investment on high-quality economic development. GDP and green total factor productivity are used to measure the quantity and quality of economic development, respectively. We construct benchmark panel regression models, nonlinear interaction term models, and panel threshold models to examine the threshold effect of FDI on high-quality economic development based on the scale, structure, and efficiency of financial development. A series of tests are conducted to check the robustness of the estimates. Our results show that green total factor productivity in China is primarily driven by green technology progress. Additionally, foreign direct investment has a positive impact on China's high-quality economic development, with a threshold effect and nonlinear characteristics. Specifically, the scale of financial development affects the influence of foreign direct investment on the quantity of economic development, while the efficiency of financial development affects its influence on the quality of economic development. Furthermore, the structure of financial development affects both the quantity and quality of economic development. This study presents novel findings that contribute to understanding the role of financial development in the impact of foreign direct investment on high-quality economic development. Likewise, our research has implications for achieving high-quality development. The introduction of foreign direct investment under the high-quality development of the economy should comprehensively consider financial development. • The impacts on high-quality economic development of financial development and FDI were discussed. • The scale, structure and efficiency of financial development were considered. • Both quantity and quality of economic development were focus on. • The green total factor productivity in China was measured. • Policy implications of introducing FDI in China were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring multi-goal sustainable development paths is a global concern. To date, little is known about the characteristics of and logic behind the evolution of China's land use policies (LUPs), especially when they are linked to China's governance philosophy of an ecological civilization (EC). An EC is a unique development concept in China that emphasizes human-nature coexistence alongside economic progress. Therefore, we examine the evolutionary process of China's LUPs in the context of an EC. We identify meaningful shifts that have occurred in those policies, as well as reveal the logic behind the changes. Based on staged text mining of 220 national LUPs initiated in China between 1986 and 2021, by disclosing the changes in the number, foci, goals, concepts, measures, and reform methods of LUPs, this paper provides an overview and four-dimensional deconstruction of the country's LUP evolution in the context of an EC. Three major findings emerge from text mining. First, China's LUP has evolved through three stages, with modifications in the number, dominant foci, and themes of the policies across each stage. Second, comprehensive and significant alterations have transpired in the orientation, goals, concepts, measures, and reform approaches of the policies. Third, the transformation in LUP has transpired centering on four dimensions: improving economic efficiency; balancing production, living, and ecology; promoting social equity; and conserving ecology. These four aspects accord with four governance concepts of an EC—efficient development, symbiosis of humans and nature, social harmony, and green development. We also discuss how China's LUP evolution offers a valuable case for exploring sustainable development at a global level. [Display omitted] • Ecological civilization (EC) and land use policies (LUPs) are interactive in China. • Key changes of China's LUP are tracked by text mining. • An overview and deconstruction of China's LUP evolution are provided under an EC. • Four concepts of an EC are matched with four evolutionary benchmarks of LUP. • China's LUP provides a case for exploring multigoal sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green transformation of economic growth mode is one of the keys to promote high-quality development. This paper starts with the collaborative agglomeration of manufacturing and producer services, demonstrates the impact of collaborative agglomeration on industrial pollution emission through theoretical analysis, and then uses panel data of 285 prefecture level cities in China from 2004 to 2019 to verify the relationship between them. The results show that collaborative agglomeration significantly increased industrial pollution emission, but the effect mainly existed in small and medium-sized cities, cities with more development zones, cities with provincial high-tech industrial parks and the observation range from 2009 to 2015. The results of subdividing producer services show that transportation, warehousing and postal services, finance, information transmission, computer services and software industries have intensified industrial pollution emission in the collaborative agglomeration with the manufacturing industry. Mechanism analysis shows that collaborative agglomeration fosters the city's "low-level innovation preference" and promotes the expansion of the number of enterprises characterized by the entry and extension of the duration of highly polluting enterprises. It objectively forms a "quantity-priority orientation", thus increasing industrial pollution emission. The above conclusions mean that the development of urban industry at this stage should be based on quality and efficiency, rather than pursuing the disordered expansion of quantity. This paper provides beneficial policy implications for reducing local governments' blind behavior and awakening the awareness of environment-friendly economic growth. • Collaborative agglomeration increases industrial pollution emission. • The effect of emission increase varies with different urban and industrial characteristics. • "Low-level innovation preference" and "quantity-priority orientation" are important mechanisms. • The entry and long-term existence of high polluting enterprises led to "quantity-priority orientation". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine how carbon trading policies impact total factor carbon productivity and subsequently provide recommendations for sustainable regional development. Through analyzing the trends in total factor carbon productivity and its mechanisms, this paper suggests that carbon trading policies can significantly enhance total factor carbon productivity. Additional mechanistic tests reveal that carbon trading can promote technological progress, factor accumulation, scale allocation and energy substitution effects; all contributing towards a low-carbon economic transition. These four effects serve to both promote economic growth and contribute towards carbon reduction targets. Therefore, to encourage low-carbon and high-quality development of the region's economy, policymakers must focus not only on constructing and expanding carbon markets, but also emphasize the synergies between these different effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of the gradual scarcity of terrestrial resources and the increasingly fierce competition for global marine resources, the task of green development of marine economy and green transformation of marine industry is imminent. Carbon finance is a product of low-carbon economic development and a derivative of green finance. It is an effective way to alleviate the global climate crisis and promote the transformation of the global economy to a low-carbon economy to achieve sustainable development. Studying the mechanism of carbon finance on the development of marine economy will help to grasp the influencing factors of the green transformation of the marine industry in an all-round way, better promote the sustainable development of China's marine economy, and realize the strategy of marine power at an early date. Based on this, this paper selects China's data from 2006 to 2020, and uses the AHP-entropy method to select 26 indicators from five levels: economic growth, energy conservation and emission reduction, marine ecology, structural adjustment and scientific and technological innovation to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system for the green transformation of China's marine industry. Based on the PLSR model, the impact of carbon finance on the green transformation of China's marine industry is empirically analyzed, and the results show that: (1) The comprehensive score of China's marine industry green transformation from 2006 to 2020 fluctuates and rises: from 2006 to 2009, the comprehensive score of China's marine industry green transformation is low, and the transformation effect is not obvious. From 2009 to 2012, the comprehensive score of green transformation of the marine industry improved significantly. From 2012 to 2018, the comprehensive score of China's marine industry green transformation fluctuated little and showed a slow growth trend, while China's marine economic transformation grew steadily at a low speed. In 2019–2020, due to the impact of the epidemic, the speed of transformation has decreased again. (2) The carbon ratio and the green credit balance of commercial banks have a role in promoting the green transformation of China's marine industry, while the carbon trading volume and carbon intensity have a restraining effect on the green transformation of China's marine industry. From the perspective of effect, carbon intensity has the strongest effect, followed by carbon ratio, carbon trading volume is slightly weaker, and the role of green credit balance of commercial banks is the weakest. Based on the research conclusions, relevant policy recommendations were put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of coordination between economic development on the one hand and environment and human well-being on the other, the problem of improving human well-being within the ecological threshold has led to ecological well-being performance (EWP) gaining importance as a subject of research. In this paper, an innovative approach to making a comprehensive evaluation of EWP has been presented to reveal, from a network perspective, the complex interactions of EWP in the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration (BTH). Based on an improved human development index and ecological consumption, this paper constructs an evaluation index system of EWP and decomposes the EWP into two stages of ecological-economic transformation and economic well-being transformation, which lays open the "black box" of the ecological well-being transformation process. The two-stage DEA model and Malmquist index are used to dynamically measure the EWP in BTH from 2006 to 2019. Then, applying the social network analysis method, the spatial correlation network structure of EWP has been explored from aspects of the overall characteristics of the network, and the status and role of cities in the network. ArcGIS software is utilized to analyze the spatial visualization and evolution characteristics. It revealed a positive trend of improvement in EWP. The reason for this was the efficiency improvement at the stage of ecological-economic transformation. While the spatial correlation of the two stages showed a complex and multi-threaded network structure, the network structure of economic well-being transformation stage was relatively loose. During the study period, the network density fluctuated and increased. There was no rigid hierarchical structure, and the network robustness improved continuously. As cities with a high level of EWP received related benefits from other cities and had a driving effect on other cities, the distribution structure of "core-periphery" was weakening. Furthermore, in the ecological-economic transformation stage, the spatial correlation of EWP broke through the traditional geographical spatial constraints to show a "multi-center" complex network pattern and tended towards balanced development. In the economic well-being transformation stage, a radial spatial structure emerged, imbalances among the cities were still obvious. This research is beneficial for developing recommendations for policymakers. These findings will facilitate the improvement of EWP toward sustainability and also the coordinated development of cities within the BTH, by providing insights into the heterogeneous characteristics of the two-stage EWP spatial correlation network. • Ecological Well-being Performance (EWP) is expressed as modified HDI/Ecological Consumption. • Two-stage DEA model and Malmquist index are applied to measure dynamically the EWP of sub-stages. • EWP links in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration are studied from a network perspective. • The "core-periphery" characteristic of the EWP spatial correlation network is weakening. • Evolution of the structure of EWP spatial correlation with geographical location is visualized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of equal importance to improve the efficiency of environmental protection enterprises (EPEs) and polluting enterprises (PEs) for Environmental Protection and Green Development, which is a micro-foundation for China's economic transformation and high-quality development. This paper redefines the efficient frontier of enterprises, distinguishing between "absolute technical efficiency" (ATE) and "relative technical efficiency" (RTE), and conducts two-dimensional measurements and dynamic comparison to examine the technical efficiency characteristics of China's EPEs and PEs listed on the A-share market, based on the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) method. The results demonstrate that, first, the ATE of EPEs exhibits a reverse upward trend, while the ATE of PEs and A-share enterprises as a whole is declining simultaneously. Second, in contrast to the shrinkage of the ATE and RTE of PEs, the efficient frontier of EPEs has experienced rapid expansion. Third, capital utilization efficiency, rather than economies of scale effects, appears to be the main obstacle impeding the technical efficiency performance of EPEs. Therefore, improving the capital utilization efficiency and the extent of coupling and coordination between capital and labor is the key to promoting the technical efficiency of EPEs. Fourth, targeted government subsidies and tax refunds for EPEs need to be improved and an external evaluation mechanism focusing on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) rating needs to be strengthened. Consequently, it is essential to promote the combination of top-down targeted policy support and multi-dimensional external evaluation to guide capital flows and achieve their efficient utilization, which is also the basis of the environmental protection industry's high-quality development. • First, the ATE of EPEs exhibits a reverse upward trend, while the ATE of PEs is declining simultaneously. • Second, in contrast to the shrinkage of the ATE and RTE of PEs, the efficient frontier of EPEs has experienced rapid expansion. • Third, capital utilization efficiency is the main obstacle impeding the technical efficiency performance of EPEs. • Fourth, targeted government subsidies and tax refunds for EPEs need to be improved and an external evaluation mechanism needs to be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To perform better future trend prediction for an economy-energy-environment (3E) system and address the shortcomings of traditional multivariate grey models, this paper introduces a spatial correlation term into the multivariate discrete grey model, thus creating the SLDGM(1,n) model, and improves the final calculation of the model according to the priority of new information. The validity of the SLDGM(1,n) model is assessed using data from the 3E system in North China, and the SLDGM(1,n) model is applied to predict the future trends of the 3E system in North China. The following conclusions are obtained. First, the introduction of the spatial correlation term and the improvement of the final calculation method are reasonable; the prediction accuracy of the multivariate grey model is improved, and multiple systems are modeled simultaneously. Second, the SLDGM(1,n) model calculates the spatial spillover effect, and according to the simulation results for North China from 2010 to 2019, Hebei's energy consumption and carbon emissions are subject to the largest influence from other provinces, while its economic development level is subject to the smallest influence, and the carbon emissions of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia are subject to a negative spatial influence effect. Third, the prediction results indicate that under the effect of spatial correlation, the energy consumption of all five provinces in North China will continue to rise; the carbon emissions of Beijing will gradually decline while the carbon emissions of the other four provinces will all gradually rise, and the per capita GDP of the five provinces is expected to increase by more than 50% by 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination relationship and the balance of development between green finance and environmental performance are crucial to guaranteeing sustainable development under circumstances of economic transition. The current paper demonstrates the construction of index systems pertaining to green finance and environmental performance. Based on a panel dataset of 30 Chinese provinces from 2008 to 2019, the coupling coordination degree model, spatial autocorrelation model, and spatial panel model are used to analyze the spatial-temporal characteristics and driving factors of the coordinated development of green finance and environmental performance across the country. The results show that, first, an overall upward trend in the green finance index appeared, with most high-value areas located in the eastern regions. In terms of environmental performance, the number of provinces with efficient environmental performance values rose from 3 to 17. These provinces were mainly distributed in the eastern and central regions. Second, the coupled coordination of green finance and environmental performance rose from mild incoordination to primary coordination during the study period, with marked spatial autocorrelation and a downward trend from east to west. Finally, industrial structure, economic development level, and environmental regulations were found to positively impact the coordinated development of green finance and environmental performance, while population density exerted an inhibiting effect on it. These effects differ across regions. The paper concludes with several policy implications, offered to guide the coordinated development of green finance and environmental performance. [Display omitted] • The provincial green finance and environmental performance are calculated. • The coordinated degree of green finance and environmental performance (GFEP) is estimated. • The driving factors of GFEP are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, countries have actively promoted green economic transformation. Formulating reasonable and effective environmental regulation policies is an important way to realize this transformation. Based on a policy of raising standard sewage charges in China, this paper selects the panel data of 30 provinces from 2000 to 2018 and adopts the multi-time Differences-in-Differences (DID) method to empirically examine the effect of raising environmental costs on industrial green total factor productivity (GTFP). This paper finds that industrial GTFP is significantly increased by raising standard sewage charges. The conclusion is still valid after alleviating the endogenous problem and conducting robustness tests. The policy gives a boost to industrial GTFP in Eastern and Western regions, but not significantly in Central regions, according to the heterogeneity test. Further analyses of its transmission process reveal that raising environmental costs can promote industrial green growth, mostly via technological and structural effect. As a result, if all provinces can optimize and upgrade their industrial structures and improve their levels of technological innovation when faced with increasingly strict environmental regulations, they will be able to better change the model of economic growth and realize green industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether financial agglomeration is conducive to eco-efficiency is of great importance for countries to better pursue cleaner production, low carbon emission reduction, and sustainable development paths. This paper focuses on 38 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) members. Based on the scientific accounting of green eco-efficiency by the super-efficiency slack-based measure (SBM) model, the relationship between financial agglomeration and eco-efficiency is thoroughly investigated by combining the spatial Durbin model (SDM), the mediating effects model, and the panel threshold regression (PTR) model, bridging the knowledge gap. Empirical results reveal that (1) Financial agglomeration has strong positive externalities for eco-efficiency in the home country and its neighbors, with the trickle-down effect playing a key role. (2) Financial agglomeration can indirectly promote cleaner production and eco-efficiency by strengthening technological innovation and upgrading industrial structure, with the latter being more strongly mediated. (3) The effect of financial agglomeration in enhancing eco-efficiency has clear stage differences. The low-level financial agglomeration will impede the improvement of green eco-efficiency while the high-level will support it, which is in line with the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory and the law of economic development. The research broadens the theoretical underpinnings of financial agglomeration and eco-efficiency and provides guidance and implications for OECD members and other emerging economies on how to optimize the spatial allocation of financial resources, promote eco-efficiency, and advance green sustainable development. [Display omitted] • The eco-efficiency of 38 OECD members was estimated. • The impact of financial agglomeration on eco-efficiency was examined quantitatively. • The spatial Durbin model considering potential spatial spillover effects was employed. • Technology innovation, industrial upgrading, and urbanization may affect eco-efficiency. • Financial agglomeration can greatly boost eco-efficiency, but the relation is non-linear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies have explored the relationship between public environmental concerns and air pollution, but the interaction effects and spatial factors under a systematic framework have been ignored. This paper investigates the interaction effect between public environmental concern and air pollution, moreover, a spatial panel simultaneous equation approach is employed to reduce the endogenous interference and the potential impact of spatial factors. Based on the balanced panel data of 269 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2017, we find that a 1% increase in public environmental concern will lead to a 0.049% decrease in PM 2.5 concentration, while a 1% increase in PM 2.5 concentration will lead to a 1.398% increase in public environmental concern. Meanwhile, there is a significantly spatial spillover effect of both public environmental concern and air pollution to the surrounding areas. Furthermore, our findings suggest that public environmental concern reduces air pollution by promoting government environmental regulation, and air pollution promotes public environmental concern by threatening the health of the residents. In addition, the results of heterogeneity analysis show that the interaction effect of public environment on air pollution significantly differs across regions with different heating characteristics and economic development levels. Practicable policies to promote favorable feedback on public environmental concern and air pollution are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon emission from major sectors and key industries is the main source of regional carbon emission, which has caused severe climate anomalies. Decoupling analysis and prediction of carbon emissions are helpful to formulate effective carbon emission reduction targets and coordinate the relationship between carbon emission and economic development. Considering the differences between sectors, this paper selects 12 major industrial carbon emitting sectors in Henan Province as the research object, decomposes the carbon emission driving factors by Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method, analyzes the decoupling relationship of carbon emission and economic development by Tapio decoupling model, constructs a decoupling effort model by combining the LMDI method and Tapio decoupling model to analyze the influence of each effect on the decoupling relationship, and sets up baseline scenario, low carbon scenario and enhanced low carbon scenario to forecast carbon emission and its decoupling state with economic development by the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning system (LEAP) model. It is concluded that the restraining effects of energy structure, energy intensity and industrial structure are increasing. The decoupling index between carbon emission and economic development of 12 sectors shows a downward trend. Both energy structure effect and energy intensity effect have made weak decoupling efforts, and the decoupling efforts of industrial structure effect were relatively small, especially in Ferrous metal smelting and calendering industry and other five sectors. In 2035, four sectors will achieve carbon neutralization and the overall decoupling effect of carbon emissions will be obvious. Finally, this paper puts forward some recommendations to promote carbon emission reduction. • Decomposition, decoupling and forecasting analysis of carbon emission. • Combining decomposition and decoupling analysis to construct decoupling effort model. • Differences between sectors of industry are considered. • The decoupling efforts of industrial structure effect were relatively small. • Four industrial sectors will achieve carbon neutralization in 2035. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In emerging markets, Corporate Social Responsibility and social entrepreneurship practices emerge as drivers of social inclusion and welfare. In countries with considerable demands for social and economic transformations, Corporate Social Responsibility provides a positive force for addressing society's major challenges such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this paper, we examine how two projects selected by the United Nations Development Programme (UNPD) orient their operations toward responsible management practices in a transition economy context and answer two questions: 1) Does Corporate Social Responsibility supporting social entrepreneurship pave the way for greater inclusion?, and, 2) How do the Corporate Social Responsibility practices help achieve the SDGs? By focusing our analysis on stakeholder theory, we highlight how context can influence the strategic management process of social inclusion choices. Both cases provide practical implications of how the insertion of responsibility thematic in core business strategy acts as an effective driver for the development of fundamentally important SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial agglomeration is a key way to promote the green transformation of the global economy and environmental governance. The existing literature mainly analyzed the impact of financial agglomeration on economic development, but rarely examines its comprehensive impact on economic growth and environmental governance considering spatial spillover effects. Based on the perspective of spatial spillover effects, this paper uses panel data of 285 cities above the prefecture-level in China to examine the impact and mechanism of financial agglomeration on green development. The results show that: (1) During the study period, financial agglomeration and green development in China are significantly different in directions of spatial distribution and expansion, but the spatial correlation between the two is relatively high. (2) Financial agglomeration can exert significant spatial spillover effects on green development. (3) Financial agglomeration has more obvious positive spatial spillover effects on green development of cities in the servitization stage or with high administrative level. (4) Industrial structure upgrading effect, labor upgrading effect and technological innovation effect are the main paths that financial agglomeration affects green development. The research results can provide a new perspective and approach to promote the green transformation of economy and sustainable development of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The societal impact of industrial pollution produced by economic activities is a global concern. This paper presents a causal analytic framework to evaluate the effectiveness of government policy on the reduction of industrial pollutants in 284 Chinese cities between 2005 and 2016. This study reports on the interaction between industrial pollution reduction and the level of regional economic development from four dimensions by using analysis of variance (ANOVA),multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and a bootstrap autoregressive-distributed lag (ARDL) test. The results indicate that city government policies, economic power, the influence of megacities, and the geographical region of the cities have significant effects on industrial pollution, in particular, sulfur dioxide (SO 2) emission reduction and dust reduction. After taking account of the interaction effect of city government policies and the other three factors, it was found that economic power is the only factor to have a significant interaction with city government policies on industrial pollution reduction. The ARDL test found long-term causality among industrial pollution reduction, fixed assets investment, and GDP per-capita in city, urban agglomeration, and regional levels. This study sheds new light on the relationship between regional economic development and the development of sustainable societies. • Causal analytics model to evaluate the effectiveness of city government policy. • Economic power has a significant interaction with city government policy. • Analysis on the effects and interactions of path model. • Cointegration analysis on economic development and pollution reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation industry is recognized as a central pillar of the global economy, setting the foundations for the successful development of world trade. Sustainable transportation is one of the most difficult challenges of our era. This paper attempts to shed light on the maritime sector's CSR agenda, both short and long term, by mapping its most significant operational aspects by conducting a deep content analysis of 90 sustainability reports and surveying experts of varied experience a and perspectives. 544 material issues of economic, environmental, and societal nature were reviewed and assessed. Findings highlighted occupational health and safety, air emissions, energy management, innovative technologies and security systems as the most material aspects of the maritime industry. • Sustainability reporting is still not a widespread practice in the maritime industry. • Occupational health and safety, energy management, innovation and security are in the spotlight. • The requirements of materiality assessment as described by the GRI are not adequately met by maritime reporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stipulates 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The implementation of this agenda will mobilize countries worldwide to incorporate the SDGs into their national development strategies. The agenda does not specify how these goals are interconnected, thus limiting their implementation. In addition, air quality affects human life and plays a vital role in achieving these SDGs. Clarifying the interconnections between SDGs related to air pollution and other SDGs will accelerate the implementation of air protection and SDGs while simultaneously promoting policy coherence. In this paper, we use the latest calculation of the SDGs in China to construct national and provincial panel data to investigate the trade-offs and synergies among Chinese air pollution-related SDGs. The findings are as follows. First, most air pollution-related SDGs have synergetic relationships, except for SDG12, which has a trade-off relationship with other air pollution-related SDGs. Second, the synergies between air pollution-related SDGs and other SDGs far outweigh the trade-offs. Third, rapidly developing areas are more likely to experience a trade-off between economic development and air pollution problems. Fourth, geographic advantages in reducing air pollution, such as being adjacent to the sea, may weaken the synergies among air pollution-related SDGs and their synergies with other SDGs. These findings indicate that most air-pollution-related SDGs and interactions between air-pollution-related SDGs and other SDGs have substantial synergy; that is, measures aimed at one goal are conducive to the advancement of other goals. However, SDG12 reflects a trade-off relationship between economic development, environmental protection, and resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution has become a key problem to be solved in the process of sustainable development in China. Most existing research on environmental regulation has focused on one dimension or several aspects of environmental regulation. This paper quantitatively scored environmental policies in China from multiple dimensions to construct the index of environmental regulation and used a spatial econometric model and satellite-monitored PM2.5 data for 280 cities in 2002–2016 to analyze the effects of environmental regulation on city air pollution treatment in the country. The empirical results showed that (a) there was a significant positive correlation for the spatial distribution of air pollution in China (0.87 in 2007) and the current air pollution situation was susceptible to the effects of its previous (the time lag effect of urban air pollution in eastern China is the strongest, which was 0.347); (b) environmental regulation could significantly improve the air pollution situation in the cities of northern and eastern regions; (c) the decomposition of the spatial spillover effect confirmed the role of environmental regulation in improving air quality in the region or surrounding areas. (d) we found the inverted U-shaped relationship between city economic development and air pollution in southern cities, the environmental Kuznets curve was verified; In the future, breaking the "barriers" in pollution treatment between regions and strengthening regional conversation and cooperation are effective approaches to treating air pollution. [Display omitted] • We studied the environmental regulation impacts on city air pollution in China. • We quantitatively scored environmental policies from multiple dimensions. • The evolution of city air pollution and its spatial correlation were discussed. • The heterogeneity influence and its spatial spillover effect of environmental regulation were discussed. • The nonlinear relationship between economic development and environmental protection was revealed based on EKC hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]