Carbon emission effects of publicly planned logistics nodes: experience from Chengdu, China

Both academics and policymakers regard publicly planned logistics nodes (PPLN) as a potential measure to promote logistics agglomeration and mitigate environmental damage caused by logistics activities. However, such measure may lead to non-linear carbon emission effect from the perspective of agglomeration economy, and empirical evidences are yet to be found to verify this inference. This paper uses DID method and mediating effect models to explore the effects and mechanisms of PPLN on CO₂ emissions with panel data from 2000 to 2017 in Chengdu, China. Our findings show that PPLN promotes the agglomeration of both small and large-scale logistics enterprises and increases carbon emissions. In addition, the agglomeration of large-scale logistics enterprises can reduce carbon emissions; the opposite is true for smaller ones. Despite the continuous diminishing of the carbon emission increase, the emission-reduction effect has not been achieved through PPLN operations. Based on the results, the study recommends that the government should appropriately determine the location and scale of PPLN, advocate green construction and industrial upgrading, and adopt differentiated regulatory and incentive measures for enterprises. Logistics enterprises can increase their investment in green technologies and strengthen cooperation with their customers.