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We propose the non-radial meta-frontier global Luenberger productivity index, which addresses the issues of technology heterogeneity, slack variable, and linear programming infeasibility, and decompose it based on the technology perspective and factor perspective. With the dataset of China’s power plants from 2005 to 2015, we identify the effects of the multi-targets, including energy-saving targets and SO2 reduction targets, in the 12th Five-Year Plan on green productivity encompassing all channels of effects. A 1% increase in the average energy-saving target cumulatively increases green productivity by 0.50%, while a 1% increase in the average SO2 reduction target cumulatively decreases that by 0.03%. In all channels, the technology leadership effect and generation efficiency exhibit sensitivity. Differential effects of the multi-targets on state-owned versus non-stateowned plants imply significant differences in observed production technology.

This paper examines the impact of extreme precipitation on Chinese industrial output and its total factor productivity (TFP) using data from the annual survey of industrial firms (ASIF) and daily weather data. The findings demonstrate a significant reduction in industrial firm output as a result of precipitation, with extreme daily precipitation decreasing output by approximately 1.22%. We provide an explanation for this precipitation-industrial output relationship from four perspectives: per capita wages, labor productivity, inventory, and depreciation. The effects of extreme precipitation are more pronounced in high-income and high-precipitation regions, as well as among foreign firms and low-technology firms. Our research suggests that extreme daily precipitation poses a serious obstacle to the development of the manufacturing industry. These results are crucial for understanding the economic impact and concealed costs of climate change, highlighting that extreme precipitation should be recognized as one of the primary sources of damage associated with climate change in the future.

Addressing emissions released from coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) is vital to mitigate climate change. China aims to replace 240 TWh CFPPs with fuel cell (FC) technologies by 2050 to achieve carbon-neutrality goals. However, FCs are not emission-free throughout their technology life cycle, and FC effectiveness will vary depending on the CFPP configuration. Despite these uncertainties, a comprehensive evaluation of on-site CFPP-to-FC mitigation potential throughout the entire life cycle remains underexplored. Here, we use a prospective life cycle assessment to evaluate the inclusive mitigation potential of retrofitting 240 TWh CFPPs via four FCs that use wind power/natural gas as feedstocks. We find CO2, PM2.5, and SO2emissions decrease by 72.0%–97.0%, 55.5%–92.6%, and 23.1%–86.1%, respectively, by 2050. Wind-electrolysis hydrogen FCs enable the largest life cycle CO2reduction, but mining metals for wind turbines reduces PM2.5and SO2savings. Prioritizing FC deployment in northern China could double the mitigation potential. Our study provides insights for designing carbon-neutrality CFPP-to-FC roadmaps in China.

As the low-carbon issue become increasingly critical in the world. The marginal abatement cost (shadow price) of CO 2 emission is a determinant in the carbon emissions trading market. This paper estimates the CO 2 shadow price of different Chinese provinces based on the parametric approach: the output distance function. The results show that the average CO 2 marginal abatement cost is 1.8 Y/T (0.28 $/T), much lower than the world carbon market price. If a regional carbon Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is introduced in China, the market price of CO 2 emission will be 0~12 Y/T.