Optimization and Spatiotemporal Differentiation of Carbon Emission Rights Allocation in the Power Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Reasonable allocation of carbon emission rights aids in the realization goal reduction. The purpose this paper is to examine how power sector Yangtze River Economic Belt (the YREB) are distributed. YREB spans China’s eastern, central, and western areas. levels development resource endowment differ significantly across regions, resulting great heterogeneity provinces’ distribution sector. ZSG–DEA model used re-adjust sector’s quotas each province achieve optimal efficiency under country’s overall reduction target. results show that: (1) In most provinces, initial inefficient. Only Zhejiang Yunnan have reached production frontier, with Jiangxi Chongqing having lowest efficiency. future, we should concentrate our efforts on them for conserving energy lowering emissions; (2) YREB’s upstream, midstream, downstream regions considerably different. Most upstream provinces higher quotas, while midstream less, implying that faces greater challenges; (3) industry varies greatly between shows different spatial features over time. early stage (2021–2027), quota substantially, later (2027–2030), it rather balanced. Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, more likely turn into sellers market trading larger quotas. While buyers fewer Other evenly To successfully target by 2030, promote regional collaboration, optimize industrial structure, accelerate technical innovation, establish regulations, provide financial support based local conditions.