The impact of women's status on HCEs: Evidence from Chinese families

Amidst the intensification of global efforts to reduce emissions, China has prominently advocated for “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” goals, and the issue of domestic carbon emissions has attracted widespread attention. Within this context, a thorough examination of energy consumption and carbon emissions within the household sector assumes paramount importance in delineating effective pathways for reducing Household Carbon Emissions (HCEs). Focusing on indirect energy use as a key representative, this article empirically investigates the influence of women's status on per capita HCEs and its underlying mechanisms, drawing on data from the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). The analysis reveals a notable finding: a higher women's status significantly correlates with increased per capita HCEs. Delving into the mechanisms at play, it becomes apparent that women's advancement correlates with heightened household income. This income augmentation, in turn, fuels consumption upgrades, thereby amplifying per capita HCEs, namely a phenomenon attributed to the “income effect”. Simultaneously, the advancement of women prompts households to adopt sustainable consumption patterns, representing a notable “substitution effect”. This shift in consumption preferences paradoxically contributes to increased per capita HCEs. Moreover, as women's status ascends, families display a proclivity towards sustainable consumption patterns, further accentuating the “substitution effect” and consequent reductions in per capita HCEs. Presently, in China, the “income effect” resulting from women's status holds a greater sway over per capita HCEs than the “substitution effect”. This nuanced analysis not only sheds light on the intricate dynamics governing HCEs but also furnishes policymakers with invaluable insights for crafting strategies aimed at mitigating such emissions.