Risk identification, evaluation and response of low-carbon technological innovation under the global value chain: A case of the Chinese manufacturing industry

•We combine the GVC framework with technological innovation linear progress model.•We show the key risks of low-carbon technological innovation under the GVC.•We propose several risk response strategies of low-carbon technological innovation.

This paper analyzes the risk of low-carbon technological innovation in emerging economies under globalization, by integrating the method of global value chain (GVC) and technological innovation linear progress into a new analytical framework. Based on the proposed framework, this research is conducted from three perspectives — research and development risk, manufacturing risk and marketing risk. Subsequently, on the basis of the constructed risk evaluation index system, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a comprehensive evaluation method based on triangular fuzzy numbers, this paper evaluates the risk of low-carbon technological innovation under the GVC in the Chinese manufacturing industry. The results show that the global low-carbon manufacturing risk ranged between low and moderate, while the global low-carbon research and development risk, and the global marketing risk ranged between moderate and high. In accordance with these results, this paper puts forward a decision making process of risk response modes and the corresponding risk response strategies for Chinese manufacturers.