Carbon mitigation, population structure and renewable energy in China: mitigation amidst aging and urban populations
Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, vol.10, no.2, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 10 Issue: 2
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1007/s41685-026-00434-9
- Journal Name: Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
- Keywords: Aging population, China sustainable environment development, Economic growth and FDI, Renewable energy, Urban population
- Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) Affiliated: No
Abstract
The focus of this study is on the environmental implication of aging population -population above 65(PO65), and the mitigating power of renewable energy. The aging population and urban population in China have a disaggregated impact on its carbon mitigation goals. Therefore, it is essential to investigate and explain how different population structures, specifically the aging population and urbanization, impact China’s environmental development, and the ability of renewable energy to achieve its carbon mitigation goals. In line with China’s climate agenda, it is necessary to evaluate the drivers of its carbon emissions on the basis of the disaggregated pattern of the population structure and draw a roadmap on how to improve China’s environmental quality. The study selected and applied the following variables for empirical analysis of the topic: aging population (population above 65), urban population, income (GDP), renewable energy, and investment (FDI). China’s time series and secondary data for the period between 1979 and 2024 were applied for the empirical analyses of this study. To estimate the strength of connections among these factors, we employed the dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (DARDL) methodology for the analysis of the short-run and long-run relationships. Additional tests (fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and causality methods) were applied as robustness to the main test. All things being equal, results from both estimations revealed that aging population and renewable energy positively impact China’s environmental development through the reduction of carbon emissions, while economic growth, urban population, and FDI negatively impact China’s environmental development through an increase in carbon emissions. In conclusion, China can achieve its carbon goal by framing its climate policy around renewable energy sources.