Temporal-Spatial Evolution and Driving Factors of Global Carbon Emission Efficiency

Abstract

With global warming, the continuous increase of carbon emissions has become a hot topic of global concern. This study took 95 countries around the world as the research object, using the Gini coefficient, spatial autocorrelation, spatial econometric model and other methods to explore temporal and spatial evolution, and spatial agglomeration characteristics from 2009 to 2018. The results are as follows: First, global carbon emission efficiency (CEE) showed an overall upward trend, and the average value fluctuated from 0.3051 in 2009 to 0.3528 in 2018, with an average annual growth rate of 1.63%. Spatially, the areas with higher CEE are mainly located in Western Europe, East Asia, and North America, and the areas with lower values are mainly located in the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Second, the Gini coefficient increased from 0.7941 to 0.8094, and regional differences showed a gradually expanding trend. The Moran’s I value decreased from 0.2389 to 0.1860, showing a positive fluctuation characteristic. Third, judging from the overall sample and the classified sample, the correlations between the influencing factors and CEE were different in different regions. Scientific and technological innovation, foreign direct investment and CEE in all continents are significantly positively correlated while industrial structure is significantly negatively correlated, and urbanization, economic development level, and informatization show obvious heterogeneity. The research is aimed at strengthening exchanges and cooperation between countries, adjusting industrial structure; implementing emission reduction policies according to local conditions; and providing guidance and reference for improving CEE and mitigating climate change.