Gray Correlation Analysis of Energy Consumption, Environmental Pollution, and Economic Growth in Subtropical Regions of China: Guangxi and Zhejiang as Examples

Abstract

Energy usage strongly supports economic growth while also resulting in serious environmental problems. How to effectively use energy to achieve economic growth on the premise of environmental friendliness is an important topic on which to focus in the new century. China is the largest developing country in the world in terms of population. Its subtropical population is close to one half of its total population. The subtropical region is representative of China’s regions with delayed economic development. However, the region has a small share of energy resources, including coal, oil, and gas. At the same time, the rapid economic growth of the region in the past three decades has deviated from the theory of resource endowment. Therefore, it is necessary to study the relationship among energy consumption, environmental pollution, and economic growth in China’s subtropical regions. The study should be conducive to healthy economic development in China and in the world as a whole. This article calculates the degree of correlation among energy consumption, environmental pollution, and economic growth by means of a gray correlation analysis. The results show that energy consumption drives the development of the economy and causes environmental pollution. Environmental pollution also has negative effects on economic development. With regard to reconciling energy consumption, environmental pollution, and economic growth, technology can be used to improve energy use efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions. Energy consumption structure should be optimized to achieve clean, high-quality energy consumption. Policies should be established to encourage green production, and laws should be enacted to support these policies.