Climate Change Research ›› 2013, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (6): 427-435.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-1719.2013.06.006

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Chinese Public’s Willingness to Pay for CO2 Emissions Reduction: A Case Study from Four Provinces/Cities

Duan Hongxia1, Lü Yanli2, Li Yan3   

  1. 1 School of Economics, Xiamen University
    2 State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University
    3 National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation
  • Received:2013-05-22 Revised:2013-09-02 Online:2013-11-30 Published:2013-11-30
  • Contact: DUAN Hongxia E-mail:hxduan@xmu.edu.cn,

Abstract: The paper applies Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to investigate the Chinese public’s willingness to pay (WTP) for CO2 emissions reduction policy. Face to face interviews were conducted to collect 1653 valid questionnaires from Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong Province and Fujian Province. A model was constructed to understand the factors that determined WTP. The results indicate that the Chinese public is willing to pay 201.86 CNY annually to support the policy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Participants from Beijing show the highest WTP, followed by participants from Fujian and Shandong, and those from Shanghai report the lowest WTP. The findings reveal that participants with higher income, higher satisfaction to current life, and being aware of climate issues are willing to pay more for CO2 emissions reduction, and those who are young, male and members of the Communist Party also indicate a higher WTP. The results imply that translating the public’s willingness to protect climate into actions should be taken into account in China’s low carbon policy. There is a need to consider the difference of willingness to pay for emissions reduction among different social groups if the market-based mechanisms such as carbon tax would be designed to facilitate emissions reduction.

Key words: climate policy, Contingent Valuation Method, willingness to pay, CO2 emissions reduction

京ICP备11008704号-4
Copyright © Climate Change Research, All Rights Reserved.
Tel: (010)58995171 E-mail: accr@cma.gov.cn
Powered by Beijing Magtech Co. Ltd