At present, there’s no agreement on how income gap affects carbon dioxide emissions. In this study, the author takes an empirical test of the relationship between income gap and carbon dioxide emissions based on the extended IPAT model, using China’s provincial panel data of from 2000 to 2012. The conclusion supports Boyce’s point of view that excessive income gap between urban and rural areas leads to environmental degradation. Meanwhile, the study introduces the cross terms of urban–rural income gap ratio and energy efficiency, and finds that excessive income gap would be an obstacle for China to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction by improving energy efficiency. Therefore, while promoting actions to climate change, energy conservation and emission reduction, governments should also narrow urban–rural income gap besides relying on the restrictions of relevant laws and regulations.
Energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions reduction opportunities in the US iron and steel sector
