The dynamics and drivers of environmental performance in Chinese cities: a decomposition analysis

This paper examines urban environmental performance using a unique database of 286 Chinese cities for the period 2002-2014. Both the dynamics of urban total factor environmental efficiency and total factor environmental productivity are explored employing slack-based measures. The findings reveal a U-shaped trend of urban environmental performance over time during the sample period. Energy conservation and pollutant reduction were the key drivers of this transformation, while the deterioration in capital efficiency slowed down this transformation. In terms of regional and city-size heterogeneities, the eastern and large cities showed better environmental performance. In addition, environmental Kuznets relationship existed for waste water and SO2 emissions, but not for CO2 emissions.

Automated summary

The study shows a U-shaped trend of urban environmental performance in Chinese cities from 2002 to 2014, primarily driven by energy conservation and pollutant reduction. Better environmental performance was observed in eastern regions and larger cities, while the deterioration in capital efficiency impacted overall environmental performance.