Effects of the “Urban Double Repairs” Policy on Urban Land-Use Carbon Emission Efficiency

Abstract

Today, the ecological and environmental risks of increasing energy consumption and carbon emissions (CEs) are becoming increasingly prominent. The “Urban Double Repairs” (UDR) policy aims to enhance urban ecosystems, optimize urban land use, and improve urban land-use carbon emission (LUCE) efficiency. Drawing on panel data of the statistical yearbooks from 2006 to 2021 representing 285 prefecture-level cities in China, this study uses the non-expected output slacks-based measure (NEO-SBM) model and the progressive difference-in-differences (DID) model to explore the effects and intrinsic mechanisms of the UDR policy on urban LUCE efficiency, aiming to provide references for the greening transformation of land-use patterns (LUPs). The research results indicate that the UDR policy significantly promotes urban LUCE efficiency, which was confirmed through a series of robustness tests. The findings of the mechanism analysis indicate that the UDR policy can enhance urban LUCE efficiency by promoting the green upgrading of traditional industries. The positive effects of this policy on LUCE efficiency exhibit a short-term lag period of 2 years. The findings of the heterogeneity analysis reveal that the effects of the UDR policy on urban LUCE efficiency are heterogeneous and depend on the urban location, resource endowment, and scale. Specifically, the effects are more significant in eastern cities, large-scale cities, and non-resource-based (NRB) cities. According to the research findings, each city should implement the UDR policy according to local conditions, develop differentiated low-carbon transformation methods, and actively guide the upgrading of green industrial structures. These measures will significantly facilitate the green and efficient use of urban land resources in China.