This paper examines the spatiotemporal evolution and convergence of energy-related carbon emission efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) using prefecture-level data from 2012 to 2021. Employing the SBM-GML strategy, kernel density estimation, the Dagum decomposition method, and the spatial econometric model, the study identifies three main findings: (1) The energy-related carbon emission efficiency in the YREB demonstrates a phased upward trend, particularly after 2014. (2) Pronounced regional disparities are observed, with downstream areas displaying higher efficiency compared to midstream and upstream regions, driven primarily by notable density variations and intra-regional disparities. (3) The analysis reveals both σ-convergence and β-convergence dynamics, highlighting varied spatial effects across regions. Factors such as economic development, industrial structure, and financial incentives exhibit diverse impacts on efficiency, underscoring substantial heterogeneity. This study offers empirical insights crucial for enhancing energy-related carbon emission efficiency in pivotal economic zones.

中文翻译：

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评估长江经济带能源相关碳排放效率的演变和收敛


本文利用 2012—2021 年地级数据，研究了长江经济带 （YREB） 能源相关碳排放效率的时空演变和收敛。采用 SBM-GML 策略、核密度估计、Dagum 分解方法和空间计量模型，该研究确定了三个主要发现：（1） YREB 中与能源相关的碳排放效率呈阶段性上升趋势，尤其是在 2014 年之后。（2） 观察到明显的区域差异，与中上游区域相比，下游区域表现出更高的效率，这主要是由于显着的密度变化和区域内差异。（3） 该分析揭示了σ收敛和β收敛动力学，突出了不同地区的不同空间效应。经济发展、产业结构和金融激励等因素对效率表现出不同的影响，凸显了巨大的异质性。本研究为提高关键经济区与能源相关的碳排放效率提供了至关重要的实证见解。