Work

Diagnosing low carbon practice performance across 297 Chinese cities: A dimension-process dual perspective assessment

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Urban China is the key contributor to the country’s carbon emissions, making the assessment on the urban low carbon practices essential for achieving carbon reduction targets. This study evaluates 297 prefecture-level-and-above Chinese cities using dimension-process dual perspectives diagnosis model that examines urban low carbon performance across eight performance dimensions (e.g. energy structure, economic development) and five management process activities (plan, implementation, check, outcome, and feedback). Results show significant variation in low carbon performance among Chinese cities, influenced by economic, geographic, and management culture differences. While dimensions such as economic development show comparatively better results, overall urban low-carbon performance in China is suboptimal and uneven. Significant weaknesses in ‘check’ and ‘feedback’ processes across most dimensions severely impede the establishment of an adaptive low carbon management culture. The study underscores that enhancing the evaluation and feedback mechanisms within the management cycle is crucial for improving overall urban low-carbon practice effectiveness and achieving sustainable urban transitions in China. The findings provide city administrators with a diagnostic tool for identifying specific process weaknesses and prioritizing targeted interventions, and offer policymakers a replicable framework for monitoring nationwide progress towards carbon neutrality.

Source: Sustainable Cities and Society

DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2026.107721