Analysis of a Low-Carbon Development Model in the Context of China's Economic Policy

摘要

There are a large number of economic and political variables that can affect aggregate carbon emissions at the national level. There does not currently exist a global standard for measuring these variables against each other, and comparing them across countries. Like many countries, China is currently exploring different ways to quantify these variables. Our research creates a framework that we call the Low Carbon Economy Index System, and uses a number of variables within that framework to comprehensively evaluate the correlative and causative forces that these variables exert on each other. Our method uses a comprehensive synthesis of data, drawing primarily on official data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China, and is evaluated using a spinodal decomposition test and a Johansen test for co-integration. We have also taken the opportunity to include a number of economic policy recommendations based on the results of our findings.