Does green credit curb carbon emissions? Research based on Chinese provincial panel data

In promoting the realization of carbon emission reduction goals, constructing an all-around low-carbon and zero-carbon society has become a significant strategic arrangement for high-quality economic development. Green-credit policy is an essential measure for China to promote sustainable development. Has the implementation of the Green-credit policy curbed carbon dioxide emissions? This issue has attracted the attention of all sectors of the global community. This thesis aims to determine the impact of green policy on the country's economic growth. Based on the empirical research of China's provincial panel data from 2005 to 2016, this paper finds that implementing the Green-credit policy and the expansion of the scale of investment have effectively suppressed carbon dioxide emissions. The test found that the Green-credit policy has mainly suppressed carbon dioxide emissions through two paths: promoting green technology innovation and optimizing industrial structure. In addition, the heterogeneity test found that the suppression effect of the Green-credit policy on carbon dioxide is more significant in the eastern region, provinces with a high degree of marketization and a high proportion of the secondary industry. The research results of this paper provide a theoretical basis and empirical evidence for the Green-credit policy to suppress carbon dioxide emissions. Also, based on the results obtained, the thesis discusses proposals for using green credit in the context of economic growth.