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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Does Green Hydrogen Infrastructure Act as
a Catalyst for Decarbonization? Evidence
Based on Provincial Data in China
1
Center for Trans-Himalaya Studies, School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China
2
China Development Economics Western Experimental Research Center, Leshan Normal University, School of
Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China
Submission date: 2024-06-02
Final revision date: 2024-10-09
Acceptance date: 2025-01-17
Online publication date: 2025-03-25
Corresponding author
Imran Ur Rahman
Center for Trans-Himalaya Studies, School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, 778 Binhe Road, Shizhong District, 614000, Leshan, China
Center for Trans-Himalaya Studies, School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, 778 Binhe Road, Shizhong District, 614000, Leshan, China
Jian Deng
Center for Trans-Himalaya Studies, School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China
Center for Trans-Himalaya Studies, School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Green hydrogen can represent a viable substitute for achieving the decarbonization goals. Based
on panel data from 31 provinces of China from 2004 to 2022, this study provides first-hand empirical
evidence. It sheds light on the impacts of green hydrogen infrastructure established under the 2015 green
development plan on CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions. The research utilizes a quasi-natural experiment
based on the difference-in-difference approach to make estimations. These predict that provinces that
have and invest in green hydrogen infrastructures have lower CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions compared
to those without operational green hydrogen infrastructure projects. The results also predict regional
heterogeneity in terms of emissions reductions in China’s eastern, central, and western regions due to
the presence of operational green hydrogen infrastructures. Based on the outcomes of the study, policies
regarding investments in green hydrogen infrastructures are encouraged to achieve carbon neutrality
and address climate change.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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