Air emissions perspective on energy efficiency: An empirical analysis of China’s coastal areas

摘要: Abstract Improving energy efficiency has been recognized as the most effective way to reduce greenhouse effect and achieve sustainable development. From perspective of air emissions, this paper adopts data envelopment analysis approach evaluate in China’s coastal areas over period 2000–2012. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide nitrogen oxide are treated undesirable outputs consumptions. The proposed global Epsilon-based measure is used estimate static with an annual cross-section data. weights three determined according their treatment costs. A Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index based on directional distance function employed dynamically efficiency. results indicate following areas: (1) level economic development positively related scores; (2) scores decrease when considering except Beijing Hainan; (3) Circum-Bohai Sea Economic Region greatly improves great potential emission; (4) growth rate change overestimated; (5) improvement mainly driven by technological improvement, scale management main obstacles.