Spatiotemporal pattern and influencing factors of regional carbon emission efficiency: an empirical analysis of Jiangsu Province in China

Jiangsu Province is not only a large province in terms of carbon emissions but also a pioneer in pursuing the goal of carbon neutrality. Improving carbon emission efficiency (CEE) is the key to lowering carbon emissions. Therefore, exploring CEE is of significance for balancing economic growth and successfully cutting carbon emissions. Based on the measurement of CEE in Jiangsu Province from 2008 to 2020, this paper explores its spatiotemporal pattern and influencing factors to propose corresponding policies. The results are as follows. (1) From 2008 to 2020, the CEE of Jiangsu Province exhibited a fluctuating increase, reaching 0.894 in 2020. The temporal variation trend of CEE in each region is consistent, whereas CEE in southern Jiangsu is greater. (2) The regional differences in CEE are evident. The low-high (LH) agglomeration region is mainly in northern Jiangsu, whereas the high-low (HL) agglomeration area is mainly in southern Jiangsu. (3) Technological progress is the primary way to raise CEE in Jiangsu Province, and the contribution of technical efficiency is relatively small. (4) The primary factors that promote CEE are economic growth and green technology progress, but environmental protection has an adverse effect. Therefore, all cities in Jiangsu Province should formulate carbon emission reduction policies that are in line with their development and provide a successful reference for regional green and low-carbon development and global climate governance.