The Impact of Polycentric Structure on CO₂ Emissions: Evidence from China

Driven by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the importance of sustainable urbanization has taken center stage. In this study, we investigate the impact of polycentric structures on CO2 emissions using data from 279 Chinese cities and employing two-way fixed effects complemented by instrumental variables. Our findings indicate that polycentric structures effectively alleviate CO2 emissions. We identify two key pathways through which polycentric structures contribute to CO2 reduction: promoting green technology and curbing energy consumption. Additionally, we discover that these relationships are influenced by market integration levels and resource dependency. This research offers valuable insights into the future development of sustainable urban spatial structures, paving the way for more eco-friendly cities around the globe.