The Relationship between CO2 Emissions, Economic Scale, Technology, Income and Population in China

The main objective of this paper was to attempt to identify the underlying driving forces which affect CO2 emissions. Based on the known IPAT equation, in this paper, economic scale was considered as one of main determinant of CO2 emissions, and the model on the factors was established to analyze the relationship between CO2 emissions, economic scale, technology, income and population in China. The regression results indicated that economic scale, income and population have a positive effect on CO2 emission; the impact of technology on CO2 emission was more complex. In first phase of the new technology, its effect on CO2 emission was positive. While at the later stage, the effect was negative through technology improvement.