[Spatial Correlation Network Effect and Influencing Factors of Green and Low-carbon Development in Logistics...

As the logistics infrastructure network constantly improves and the demand for low-carbon transition continues to increase, the green, low-carbon development of the logistics industry has displayed distinctive features of spatial association. Therefore evaluating the effects and causes of spatial association comprehensively and objectively to promote the low-carbon transition of the logistics industry and coordinated development between regions, is important. Based on the global EBM model of undesirable output, this study measured the green, low-carbon development level of inter-provincial logistics in China and revealed the spatial association features of low-carbon development in the logistics industry, as well as the formation mechanism. The research findings are listed below： ① The green, low-carbon development level of inter-provincial logistics showed a complex, multi-threading network of spatial association. Although the green, low-carbon development of the logistics industry in the regions was still at a low level, a significant spatial spillover effect, accompanied by a highly accessible and stable spatial association network was observed. ② An imbalance has been observed in the spillover and benefiting pattern of the green, low-carbon development of inter-provincial logistics. Specifically, the logistics industry in the eastern region, which consumes less energy and produces less pollution, took the lead in the development of low-carbon logistics, whereas energy-intensive and highly polluting industries were concentrated in the central and western regions, which are key regions for green, low-carbon development that are currently at the stage of benefiting from the economic activities of green logistics in nearby regions. ③ The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, southern region, and western provinces along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor served as the broker module, which were important hubs for achieving the high-quality development of the logistics industry. The eastern region and coastal areas in the east, as modules with a bidirectional spillover, were at the key stage of green industrial upgradation and played a two-way leading role in and out of the module. The western region, as the major beneficiary module that receives the industrial transfer of the eastern region, was at the stage of green technology absorption and improvement, thus showing a limited spillover capacity currently. ④ The study on the formation mechanism of the spatial association network suggested that regions with close traffic connection displayed competition effects on the low-carbon development of logistics. Regional differences in industrial structures, transportation infrastructure, and government support could enhance the spillover and flow in the green, low-carbon development level of logistics, while similar logistics aggregation and level of energy-saving technology contributed to forming the spatial association network of low-carbon logistics development. The spatial association of the green, low-carbon logistics development still has room for improvement, which makes it necessary to clarify the development level of green, low-carbon logistics in different provinces and the benefiting and spillover pathway between different regions and give full play to traffic infrastructure and energy-saving technologies, to achieve the regional linkage and coordinated improvement of green, low-carbon logistics.