Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE Model

The rapid development of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the construction industry poses an enormous and negative challenge for China’s energy and environment. While maintaining moderate economic growth, it is particularly important to realize energy conservation and carbon reduction. Car...

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Main Authors: Qiang Du, Yanan Dong, Jingtao Li, Yuelin Zhao, Libiao Bai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/12/2252
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author Qiang Du
Yanan Dong
Jingtao Li
Yuelin Zhao
Libiao Bai
author_facet Qiang Du
Yanan Dong
Jingtao Li
Yuelin Zhao
Libiao Bai
author_sort Qiang Du
collection DOAJ
description The rapid development of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the construction industry poses an enormous and negative challenge for China’s energy and environment. While maintaining moderate economic growth, it is particularly important to realize energy conservation and carbon reduction. Carbon tax policy, a direct tool to reduce carbon emissions, can effectively alleviate the environmental issues caused by construction activities. However, relying solely on a single method is insufficient to handle the complicated circumstances of China’s construction industry. This study explores the influence of carbon tax on the construction industry through adjustments to tax rates via developing a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model. Then, it analyzes how the carbon tax affects the economic and environmental variables by designing scenarios for recycling tax revenue and improved energy efficiency. The results indicate that the carbon tax rate of 40 RMB/t-CO<sub>2</sub> is the most appropriate. At this tax level, the negative impacts of energy demand and emissions reduction on macroeconomy and construction industry are minimized. It was also determined that carbon tax revenue recycling to households and sectoral investment will realize the “weak double dividend” effect on the construction industry. Furthermore, improving energy efficiency in the construction industry will demonstrate the additional advantages of carbon tax. This study serves as a theoretical foundation for the Chinese government to develop various energy strategies to achieve low-carbon development in the construction industry.
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spelling doaj.art-a0089a0e0b6647b097fabb0f3dac875e2023-11-24T13:44:25ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092022-12-011212225210.3390/buildings12122252Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE ModelQiang Du0Yanan Dong1Jingtao Li2Yuelin Zhao3Libiao Bai4Center for Green Engineering and Sustainable Development, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaCollege of Transportation Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaCollege of Transportation Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaCenter for Green Engineering and Sustainable Development, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaThe rapid development of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the construction industry poses an enormous and negative challenge for China’s energy and environment. While maintaining moderate economic growth, it is particularly important to realize energy conservation and carbon reduction. Carbon tax policy, a direct tool to reduce carbon emissions, can effectively alleviate the environmental issues caused by construction activities. However, relying solely on a single method is insufficient to handle the complicated circumstances of China’s construction industry. This study explores the influence of carbon tax on the construction industry through adjustments to tax rates via developing a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model. Then, it analyzes how the carbon tax affects the economic and environmental variables by designing scenarios for recycling tax revenue and improved energy efficiency. The results indicate that the carbon tax rate of 40 RMB/t-CO<sub>2</sub> is the most appropriate. At this tax level, the negative impacts of energy demand and emissions reduction on macroeconomy and construction industry are minimized. It was also determined that carbon tax revenue recycling to households and sectoral investment will realize the “weak double dividend” effect on the construction industry. Furthermore, improving energy efficiency in the construction industry will demonstrate the additional advantages of carbon tax. This study serves as a theoretical foundation for the Chinese government to develop various energy strategies to achieve low-carbon development in the construction industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/12/2252carbon taxdouble dividendenergy efficiencyCGE modelconstruction industry
spellingShingle Qiang Du
Yanan Dong
Jingtao Li
Yuelin Zhao
Libiao Bai
Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE Model
Buildings
carbon tax
double dividend
energy efficiency
CGE model
construction industry
title Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE Model
title_full Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE Model
title_fullStr Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE Model
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE Model
title_short Assessing the Impacts of Carbon Tax and Improved Energy Efficiency on the Construction Industry: Based on CGE Model
title_sort assessing the impacts of carbon tax and improved energy efficiency on the construction industry based on cge model
topic carbon tax
double dividend
energy efficiency
CGE model
construction industry
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/12/2252
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