Information disclosure, coal withdrawal and carbon emissions reductions: A policy test based on China’s environmental information disclosure

Abstract

How to better explore a diversity of emissions reduction paths has become the key to China achieving carbon peak and carbon neutralization goals as well as transforming the existing energy structure as soon as possible. Based on this, from the perspective of information flow, this study used the differences-in-differences method (DID) to identify the “net effect” of the carbon emissions reduction caused by China’s environmental information disclosure. The results showed the following: first, environmental information disclosure could effectively promote regional carbon emissions reductions and had a better effect on the central and western regions and low carbon emissions density regions. Second, the achievement of carbon emissions reduction targets was mainly attributed to the positive impact of information disclosure in the process of “coal with-drawal.” Finally, this study also found that environmental information disclosure helped to promote the positive effect of clean energy development on “coal withdrawal,” and the promotion of public awareness regarding environmental supervision helped to strengthen the external impact of environmental information disclosure on regional carbon emissions reduction.