This study aims to examine the asymmetric nexus between CO₂ emissions and renewable energy and economic and population growth in seven East African countries (EACs) at the regional level and country levels. Common correlated effect means group (CCEMG), nonlinear autoregressive distributed lagged (NARDL), and causality tests were employed for the panel data from 1980 to 2016. The main findings are as follows: (1) Renewable energy consumption negatively affects CO₂ emissions, while economic and population growth positively affect CO₂ emissions at the regional level. (2) The findings of asymmetric and symmetric linkages between CO₂ emissions and its determinants (economic and population growth and renewable energy) are very volatile across the country levels. (3) The causality hypotheses are different across the country and regional levels. (4) This study shows the renewable energy growth nexus, wherein renewable energy positively affects economic growth at the regional level. Lastly, the study suggests potential policy implications for effectively reducing CO₂ emissions as well as growing the economy at the regional level.

China launched the pilot construction of the carbon emission trading scheme (ETS) in 2011. The pilots have been running for many years. Does ETS significantly restrain the increase of carbon emission intensity? Based on China’s panel data for provinces and industries, this paper uses the policy assessment method to evaluate the inhibition by ETS of carbon emission intensity. The assessment scope includes six provincial pilots and pilot industries covered by ETS. The results show that ETS has significant suppression of carbon emission intensity only in Beijing and Guangdong. There is no significant impact on the carbon emission intensity of Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Hubei. Through the carbon emission intensity inhibition analysis of the industries covered by ETS from Beijing and Chongqing, the results of the production and supply of electric power, steam and hot water, petroleum processing and coking in Beijing have a significant impact on the ETS. Only the smelting and pressing of ferrous metals in Chongqing has a significant impact on the ETS.

China has formulated a series of industrial policies dedicated to the sustainable development of new energy vehicles (NEVs). Researching China’s NEVs industry policy system, particularly its staged evolution characteristics and internal logic, is essential for future optimization of NEVs supporting policy system. In this paper, we use the co-word analysis method and social network analysis method to investigate the policy evaluation of China’s NEVs industry. In total, 154 documents issued by the Chinese central government from 1991 to 2019 are chosen to describe the policy characteristics in four dimensions: policy themes, objects, key process along industry chain, and related measures. We explore policy evolution according to high-frequency words clustering. Results analyzing the policy development history showed that Chinese NEVs industry policy system has incurred the following stages: starting, initial formation, rapid expansion, and now strategic deepening. During the policy evolution in China, policy themes have emphasized the role of technology in NEV development. The industry process involved in policies has covered NEVs production, after-sales service, infrastructure, and battery management. Based on this analysis, we put forward relevant suggestions for improving China’s NEVs industry policy.

Mature methanol vehicle technology with low exhaust emissions and economic benefits are a viable way to mitigate oil dependency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, pilot projects for methanol vehicles have been carried out in 10 different cities in China over the last decade. They positively affect the economy and the environment, as shown by the acceptance results. This study chronologically reviewed the previous development and adopted pertinent policies determine the feasibility of deploying methanol vehicles from national to provincial levels. Based on the analysis and evaluations, the local government is suggested to make the following dynamic policy recommendations: (a) Before reaching the “carbon peak”, development strategies should be formulated according to the resource situation of each region. Priority should be given to the deployment of coal-to-methanol vehicles and bio-methanol vehicles to maximize the economy, so as to promote the construction of transmission and distribution systems, advance the manufacturing process of methanol fuel, and prepare the technology for the next stage. (b) In the second stage, the advancement of CO₂-to-methanol technology should be promoted, focusing on the development of green methanol vehicles to better contribute to the “carbon neutrality”.