Towards Carbon Neutrality in Agglomeration: Impact of Eco-Industry Development on Urban Carbon Emission Efficiency

Ecological industrial parks (EIPs) play a pivotal role as primary drivers of China's industrial green transformation, facilitating the enhancement of urban carbon emission efficiency (UCEE) and the realization of green sustainable development. This study empirically investigates the effects of EIP policies on UCEE through quasi-natural experiments, utilizing data from 282 prefecture-level cities in China spanning from 2006 to 2021. Employing a multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) method, the findings are as follows: (1) The implementation of EIP policies leads to a 2.5% average increase in UCEE. (2) Event analysis reveals certain lagging characteristics in the promoting effect of EIP policies on the carbon emission efficiency of pilot cities. (3) EIP construction primarily enhances UCEE by reinforcing agglomeration effects and elevating innovation ability. (4) The promoting effect of EIP construction is more pronounced in the eastern and central regions, as well as in non-resource-based cities within different regions. Drawing from the empirical results, this study provides pertinent recommendations for EIP construction, offering theoretical guidance to policymakers and managers in crafting sustainable development strategies.