Panel estimation for transport sector CO2 emissions and its affecting factors: A regional analysis in China

With rapid economic growth, the transport sector plays an important role in China′s CO2 emissions. The existing research is extensively concerned with transport sector CO2 emissions in recent years, but little attention has been paid to regional differences. This paper investigates CO2 emissions in the transport sector at the national and regional levels using the STIRPAT model and provincial panel data from 1995 to 2010 in China. The results showed that passenger transport dominates CO2 emissions in the transport sector, but its influence varies across regions. Electrification has significant potential to lower CO2 emissions because of resulting higher fuel efficiency and reduced pollution. Energy efficiency improvement is effective but limited in reducing emissions due to increasing demand from economic development and population growth. These results not only contribute to advancing the existing literature, but also merit particular attention from policy makers in China.