1. Long‑Term Policy Constraints and Expectation Guidance
The dual‑carbon goals provide a definitive timeline for emissions reduction, creating stable, long‑term policy expectations for all economic actors. This rigid policy boundary directly influences regional and industrial development planning, compelling a transformation of development models and paths. Research indicates that government leadership and guidance through policy formulation, regulations, and planning are essential for promoting the Dual‑Carbon transition-1-7. Policy and governance serve as the political, economic, and legal guarantees for achieving carbon neutrality-8.
References:
Gong, B., Guo, S., Xu, J., & Arndt, C. (Eds.). (2024). Chinese Governance and Transformation Towards Carbon Neutrality. Springer-1-7.
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
2. Market‑Oriented Resource Allocation with Price Signals
A core characteristic of the dual‑carbon economy is its use of market mechanisms to guide resource allocation. Through measures such as establishing a carbon market and promoting carbon pricing, the true environmental cost of emissions is internalized. This cost‑internalization reshapes the cost‑benefit functions of economic entities, effectively guiding capital, talent, and technology toward green, low‑carbon economic activities-1-7. Research shows that carbon emissions trading policies can enable synergistic development between the dual‑carbon economy and traditional economy-3-4. The academic literature on carbon pricing and its regulatory mechanisms continues to expand-8-9.
References:
Gong, B., Guo, S., Xu, J., & Arndt, C. (Eds.). (2024). Chinese Governance and Transformation Towards Carbon Neutrality. Springer-1-7.
Pan, J., Zhang, L., & Cheng, S. (2023). Study on the Economic Effects of Dual‑Carbon Economy from the Perspective of General Equilibrium Theory. ICPDI 2023. EAI-3-4.
Wei, C., Song, F., & Chen, H. (Eds.). (2025). 碳中和经济学 [Carbon Neutrality Economics]. Higher Education Press-9.
3. Technological Innovation as the Core Driving Force
Dual‑carbon technology (DCT) is viewed as a new production factor. Its unique efficiency—the synergy between emission reduction and cost reduction—makes it a critical engine for economic growth-5. The transition necessitates breakthroughs in a wide array of technologies, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Quantitative analysis shows that the dual‑carbon economy can effectively promote China's green technological progress, thereby increasing total factor productivity, per capita GDP, and welfare levels-3-4. The key scientific and technological issues related to energy structure transformation and industrial restructuring are central to achieving the dual‑carbon goals-8.
References:
Zhang, C., Hu, X., Tian, L., & Zhou, Y. (2025). Analysis of economic growth under green development enabled by dual‑carbon technology. Journal of Cleaner Production-5.
Pan, J., Zhang, L., & Cheng, S. (2023). Study on the Economic Effects of Dual‑Carbon Economy from the Perspective of General Equilibrium Theory. ICPDI 2023. EAI-3-4.
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
4. A "Creative Destruction" Process of Industrial Restructuring
The shift toward a dual‑carbon economy involves a fundamental restructuring of industries through a "creative destruction" process where outdated, high‑carbon technologies and business models are replaced by new, greener ones. Research demonstrates that DCT application and transformation capabilities across production, finance, and emission reduction sectors positively contribute to structural transformation, and overall technological progress is a key driver of industrial upgrading-5. Industrial restructuring is identified as an important measure to achieve the "dual carbon" targets, with key technology areas including low‑carbon process industries and green transport systems-8.
References:
Zhang, C., Hu, X., Tian, L., & Zhou, Y. (2025). Analysis of economic growth under green development enabled by dual‑carbon technology. Journal of Cleaner Production-5.
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
5. A Multi‑Level Governance System
Achieving dual‑carbon goals requires a complex, multi‑level governance system that coordinates across various levels of government, different industrial sectors, and between domestic and international actors. This governance system encompasses the participation of government, the market, industry, and all sectors of society, emphasizing coordination and cooperation-1-7. The government plays an important leadership and guidance role, while the full utilization of market mechanisms and active industry participation are indispensable-2-7. At the national level, the strategic layout and technical route selection are decisive factors for the success or failure of the "dual carbon" action-8.
References:
Gong, B., Guo, S., Xu, J., & Arndt, C. (Eds.). (2024). Chinese Governance and Transformation Towards Carbon Neutrality. Springer-1-2-7.
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
6. "Four‑Dimensional" Synergistic Advancement
In practice, the dual‑carbon economy moves forward through four interconnected dimensions: top‑level design, industrial transformation, technological innovation, and social participation. Research emphasizes the synergy between emission reduction and pollution control, green expansion, and economic growth. For example, energy structure transformation, industrial restructuring, and carbon sink increases require coordinated promotion-8. The concept recognizes the interconnectedness of environmental and economic objectives, emphasizing innovation, investment, and policy alignment-6.
References:
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. (2024). Modeling the dual carbon economy in advanced economies-6.
7. A Focus on the Green Premium and Market Competitiveness
The economic viability of green technologies is encapsulated in the concept of the "green premium"—the cost difference between a green product and its carbon‑intensive counterpart. Research shows that a lower green premium enhances the market competitiveness and supply of high‑rated green products, while a higher green premium reduces the probability of successful innovation, thereby hindering technological advancement and constraining long‑term green growth-5. The green premium affects the choice of different energy sources by economic entities-5.
References:
Zhang, C., Hu, X., Tian, L., & Zhou, Y. (2025). Analysis of economic growth under green development enabled by dual‑carbon technology. Journal of Cleaner Production-5.
8. Deep Integration of Energy Systems
The transition involves a profound restructuring of energy systems, moving from a fossil‑fuel‑centric model to one dominated by renewables. Energy structure transformation is identified as the fundamental path to achieving carbon neutrality-8. Key technologies such as zero emission/emission reduction, hydrogen industry, and energy storage are particularly important. Considering the basic condition of fossil fuels as the dominant energy, research emphasizes multi‑point breakthrough, integrated innovation, and comprehensive demonstration of key technologies for efficient and clean utilization of fossil energy, renewable energy, and advanced nuclear energy-8.
References:
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
9. A High Degree of Digitalization and Data Integration
Data integrity, transparency, and real‑time monitoring are essential for a functioning dual‑carbon economy. Advanced digital tools, including big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, play a vital role in supporting carbon emissions monitoring and decision‑making-8. Research highlights the need for a data analysis platform for monitoring, assessment, inspection, and decision‑making in response to climate change, including the establishment of industrial emission factor databases and high‑resolution emission inventory systems-8.
References:
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
10. A Socially Inclusive "Just Transition"
The transition must be shared equitably to ensure social justice. Raising public awareness and participation in environmental protection is indispensable, and the process of the Dual‑Carbon transition is effectively promoted through publicity and education, social organizations, and public participation-1-7. From a welfare perspective, research examines the uneven impacts of carbon neutrality policies across different social groups and generations-9. Policy and governance issues include carbon pricing and its regulatory mechanisms, as well as climate resilience assessment and macro strategy-8.
References:
Gong, B., Guo, S., Xu, J., & Arndt, C. (Eds.). (2024). Chinese Governance and Transformation Towards Carbon Neutrality. Springer-1-7.
Wei, C., Song, F., & Chen, H. (Eds.). (2025). 碳中和经济学 [Carbon Neutrality Economics]. Higher Education Press-9.
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2022). Scientific and technological supporting system for carbon peak & carbon neutrality action-8.
