Policy Network Formation for Cross-Regional Governmental Cooperation Toward Carbon Neutrality in China

• In Event: Networking for Environmental Quality: Carbon, Water, and Collaboration

Abstract

Purpose

In light of escalating concerns over carbon emissions and the constraints of unilateral governance, intergovernmental collaboration has emerged as a critical strategy for achieving carbon peak and neutrality objectives. This study addresses two key questions: (1) What factors or factor combinations drive the formation of intergovernmental policy networks for carbon mitigation? (2) How can policy instruments be optimally selected and applied to enhance implementation efficacy?

Methodology

Grounded in a comprehensive literature review of carbon mitigation governance and cross-regional policy networks, this research constructs a tripartite analytical framework to investigate selective collaboration mechanisms among subnational governments through the lenses of network self-organization dynamics, institutional actor characteristics, and exogenous network influences. Employing fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), we analyze 20 cases of intergovernmental cooperation in China, quantifying policy texts into measurable indicators. Six conditioning factors (political momentum, organizational support, benefit incentives, resource constraints, risk management, and status quo disparities) and their configurations are evaluated to identify pathways toward stable low-carbon transition governance. Event Sequence Analysis (ESA) further elucidates longitudinal dynamics in cross-regional collaboration.

Findings

No single condition is necessary for effective intergovernmental cooperation. Configurational analysis reveals six distinct pathways, classified into three models: benefit-driven, path-dependent, and resource-complementary. To amplify the cross-regional synergistic effects of carbon mitigation policies, policymakers should enhance the coupling between policy instruments and multi-tiered objectives. Heterogeneity in regional cooperation networks underscores the need for context-specific strategies tailored to urban and developmental contexts.

Value

The study makes three contributions: First, it advances cooperative governance theory by revealing how Chinese subnational governments balance policy uniformity with local adaptation. Second, it demonstrates a novel fsQCA-ESA methodology for analyzing policy networks, bridging gaps in China’s normative and case-based research on coordinated carbon reduction governance. Third, it provides policymakers with evidence-based strategies for instrument selection and phased network development, crucial for accelerating carbon neutrality goals while maintaining regional economic stability.

Author

• Niyang Zhang, Southeast University
  Presenting Author