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<p>Inter-regional low carbon technology cooperation (LCTC) represents a key strategy to accelerate regional decarbonization, yet its actual impact on carbon abatement remains empirically underexplored, posing a challenge for effective policy assessment. This study addresses this gap by constructing a comprehensive network indicator based on two primary channels—patent transfers (LCTT) and joint applications (LCTA)—to examine China’s inter-provincial LCTC from 2010 to 2023. The QAP analysis assesses the network’s influence on carbon abatement and identifies its key drivers. The empirical evidence shows that despite a rise in LCTC frequency and complexity, provincial polarization persists, and the carbon mitigation effect brought by LCTC is weaker than expected. Specifically, the emission reduction impact of LCTA is found to be significantly superior to that of LCTT, and a province’s “effective size” within the network is identified as the core structural factor determining its abatement efficiency. Furthermore, similarities in science and technology expenditures and disparities in the accumulation of low carbon technologies —rather than historical cooperation frequency—are pivotal in fostering inter-provincial LCTC. Policy implications suggest shifting focus from “cooperation scale” to “network quality” by prioritizing joint applications. A “gradient linkage” mechanism with targeted incentives is recommended for lagging provinces like Guizhou and Hainan. Finally, a “capacity-demand” database should be established to facilitate technological matching and overcome local protectionism.</p>

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Measuring inter-regional climate cooperation: a network-based assessment of carbon abatement performance and its drivers

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月27日

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  • Dan Xia,
  • Ling Zhang

摘要

Inter-regional low carbon technology cooperation (LCTC) represents a key strategy to accelerate regional decarbonization, yet its actual impact on carbon abatement remains empirically underexplored, posing a challenge for effective policy assessment. This study addresses this gap by constructing a comprehensive network indicator based on two primary channels—patent transfers (LCTT) and joint applications (LCTA)—to examine China’s inter-provincial LCTC from 2010 to 2023. The QAP analysis assesses the network’s influence on carbon abatement and identifies its key drivers. The empirical evidence shows that despite a rise in LCTC frequency and complexity, provincial polarization persists, and the carbon mitigation effect brought by LCTC is weaker than expected. Specifically, the emission reduction impact of LCTA is found to be significantly superior to that of LCTT, and a province’s “effective size” within the network is identified as the core structural factor determining its abatement efficiency. Furthermore, similarities in science and technology expenditures and disparities in the accumulation of low carbon technologies —rather than historical cooperation frequency—are pivotal in fostering inter-provincial LCTC. Policy implications suggest shifting focus from “cooperation scale” to “network quality” by prioritizing joint applications. A “gradient linkage” mechanism with targeted incentives is recommended for lagging provinces like Guizhou and Hainan. Finally, a “capacity-demand” database should be established to facilitate technological matching and overcome local protectionism.