How industrialization and urbanization process impacts on CO2 emissions in China: Evidence from nonparametric additive regression models

This paper examines the impacts of industrialization and urbanization on CO₂ emissions in China using nonparametric additive regression models and provincial panel data from 1990 to 2011. The empirical results show that there is an inverted U-shaped nonlinear relationship between industrialization and CO₂ emissions in the three regions in China. Urbanization follows an inverted U-shaped pattern with CO₂ emissions in the eastern region, and a positive U-shaped pattern in the central region. However, the nonlinear impact of urbanization on CO₂ emissions is insignificant in the western region. As a result, the differential dynamic effects of industrialization and urbanization on CO₂ emissions in the three regions should be taken into consideration in reducing China's CO₂ emissions.