Effects of population flow on regional carbon emissions: evidence from China

Population flow can affect regional carbon emissions. Based on the analysis of the dual transmission mechanism of population flow and its effect on carbon emissions, this paper empirically studies the impact of population flow and other related factors on China’s carbon emissions through panel econometric regression and heterogeneity analysis with fixed effect model. The results show that, firstly, in the long or short term, China’s population flow can reduce the growth of carbon emissions. Secondly, the regional population aging and knowledge structure improvement caused by population flow are helpful to reduce carbon emissions, while the regional urbanization improvement caused by population flow is not significantly correlated with the growth of household miniaturization on carbon emissions. Thirdly, from the perspective of heterogeneous geographical divisions, population flow promotes the increase of carbon emissions in the northwest region of the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line), while it is opposite in the southeast region of Hu Line. Fourthly, China’s consumption level, per capita GDP, energy intensity, and energy consumption structure have contributed to the growth of carbon emissions, while carbon intensity has a negative effect on carbon emissions. Finally, this paper puts forward relevant suggestions from the perspective of coordinating population policy and energy conservation and emission reduction policy.