Speakers
Description
This study addresses the critical need to balance economic development with environmental sustainability, focusing on the coordination between capital flows and carbon emissions in the economically developed Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region from the perspective of environmental justice. By investigating the coupling mechanisms between resource allocation and carbon emissions, the research seeks to uncover the dynamic interactions that drive regional sustainability. It further aims to classify and analyze the types of imbalances to offer actionable insights for addressing environmental disparities. Using micro-level data on corporate capital investment in the YRD and carbon emission network grid data, the study employs complex network analysis and a coupling coordination model to evaluate regional coordination levels and identify areas of extreme imbalance. Through a typological framework, regions are categorized based on the degree and nature of their discordance, and a multiple linear regression model is applied to explore the underlying mechanisms that link capital flows and carbon emissions. The findings reveal that the coupling mechanisms exhibit significant variation across sectors and regions. In sectors such as electricity, transportation, and finance, there is a pronounced mismatch between capital flows and carbon emissions. For instance, the electricity sector’s disjointed areas are concentrated in Northern Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, reflecting inadequate investment in low-carbon infrastructure. In the transportation sector, coordinated areas are mainly found in provincial capitals and cities near Shanghai (e.g., Suzhou, Wuxi, Nantong) and Ningbo, while other regions face severe imbalances due to inefficient transportation networks and high emission intensities. The financial sector demonstrates better coordination in economically vibrant areas such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei, Ningbo, Wenzhou, and Jiaxing, with other regions lagging behind. Conversely, the agricultural and industrial sectors show relatively higher coordination, though localized imbalances persist, particularly in Anhui, Zhenjiang, Zhoushan, and parts of Northern Anhui and Southern Zhejiang. By categorizing these imbalances, the study identifies distinct factors contributing to the lack of coordination, including disparities in technological adoption, regional economic structures, and policy implementation. The coupling mechanisms reveal that regions with higher levels of capital investment in green technologies exhibit improved coordination, while areas with limited resources face heightened environmental and economic risks. This research underscores the importance of differentiated policy interventions tailored to regional contexts, advocating for equitable resource allocation and low-carbon development strategies to promote environmental justice. By integrating coupling mechanisms and typological analysis, the findings provide a nuanced understanding of the interplay between capital flows and carbon emissions, offering robust guidance for policymakers to achieve sustainable development and carbon neutrality in the YRD and beyond.
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
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