Assessing Low-Carbon Progress in Regional China : The Case Study of Anhui Province

This book presents a comprehensive evaluation of green and low-carbon development in Anhui Province, China, through the construction of the Green and Low-Carbon Development Index (GLCDI). By integrating five sub-dimensions—green ecology, green industry, green lifestyle, environmental governance, and policy protection—with 29 secondary indicators, it offers a scientific framework to assess ecological capacity and development potential at both provincial and municipal levels.

What distinguishes this approach is its combination of quantitative analysis (using the entropy method and coupling coordination models) and in-depth case studies of key industries such as manufacturing, construction, and tourism, which reveal spatial-temporal disparities and driving factors of green development. The content spans policy background, index construction, empirical analysis, and policy recommendations, with a focus on balancing economic growth and ecological sustainability.

Intended for researchers, policymakers, and students in environmental science, regional development, and sustainable economics, the book provides actionable insights for green industrial transformation, ecological protection, and policy optimization. Its key strengths lie in the GLCDI’s scalability for national application, detailed industry-specific analyses, and targeted strategies to address regional imbalances, making it a valuable resource for advancing low-carbon development in China and beyond.

Yuanxiang Zhou is Associate Professor and Master’s Supervisor at the School of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Anhui University of Finance and Economics. He received his doctorate in Economics from the School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, in 2019. He is Deputy Director of the Department of Economic Statistics and is affiliated with the Collaborative Center for Ecological Economy and Management. Dr. Zhou has been recognized as a Jianghuai Cultural Youth Talent by Anhui Province and as an Excellent Young Scholar in Social Sciences by provincial institutions. His research interests include resource and environmental statistics, health economics, economic statistics, and accounting. He has published over 20 academic papers in journals such as Statistical Research, Journal of Natural Resources, Annals of Operations Research, Resources Policy, and Resources, Conservation & Recycling, including an ESI Hot Paper. He is also an anonymous reviewer for several international journals and a review editor for Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Yuhuan Sun is Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Vice Dean of the School of Statistics at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics. She completed her postdoctoral work at the China Social Science Survey Center at Peking University and was a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan. She is Chief Expert for major projects funded by the National Social Science Fund and has been recognized as a Leading Talent in Dalian and a Famous Teacher of Undergraduate Teaching in Liaoning Province. Professor Sun serves as Vice President of the Market Research Teaching Branch of the China Commercial Statistics Association and holds standing director roles in national statistics and data analysis organizations. Her research areas include resource and environmental statistics, data modeling, and social survey methodology. She has led multiple major and key projects funded by national and provincial bodies and has published more than 70 academic articles in journals such as Statistical Research, Quantitative and Technical Economics Research, and Geographical Research.

Malin Song is Second-Level Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Postdoctoral Researcher at Anhui University of Finance and Economics. Since 2023, he has served as Vice President and Standing Committee Member of the University’s Party Committee. He has been honored with distinctions such as the Ministry of Education’s "New Century Excellent Talents Support Program," the State Council’s Special Government Allowance, and the National Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand Talents Project. He has also been recognized as a Cultural Talent by the CPC Central Committee and named a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics and Elsevier. Professor Song served as Editor-in-Chief of Management of Environmental Quality and as a member of the Scientific Committee of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme. His research focuses on data envelopment analysis and environmental economic statistics, with an emphasis on environmental efficiency evaluation. He has led numerous projects funded by national agencies, receiving "Excellent" and "Outstanding" evaluations, and has received research awards from provincial and ministerial bodies, including the Anhui Provincial Social Science and Science & Technology Awards, the Ministry of Commerce, and the National Excellent Statistical Scientific Research Achievements Award.