The path to China's zero-carbon target: Implications for the relationship between de-coal, economic output, and carbon dioxide emissions

This paper investigates the asymmetric impact of de-coal in China on economic output and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through a nonlinear time series simulation over the period 1965-2021. The research also estimates the effects of using renewable energy as an alternative fuel to replace coal. The results show that the reducing effect of de-coal on CO2 emissions is stronger than the increasing effect of coal consumption. The negative impact of de-coal on economic growth is weak or insignificant. While renewable energy contributes to economic output, it has a reducing effect on CO2 emissions. At the end of the paper, China's targets to achieve carbon neutrality and de-coal are discussed based on the findings.