Evaluating regional disparities in socio-economic vulnerability to coal phase-out across Chinese cities

Shen, Y; Wang, Y; He, J; Chen, Y; Shi, X; Li, Y

Evaluating regional disparities in socio-economic vulnerability to coal phase-out across Chinese cities

Shen, Y Wang, Y He, J Chen, Y Shi, X

Li, Y

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Publisher:: CELL PRESS
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cell Reports Sustainability, 2025, 2, (10)
Issue Date:: 2025-10-24

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Shen, Y
dc.contributor.author	Wang, Y
dc.contributor.author	He, J
dc.contributor.author	Chen, Y
dc.contributor.author	Shi, X https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9653-7395
dc.contributor.author	Li, Y
dc.date.accessioned	2026-02-19T23:21:35Z
dc.date.available	2026-02-19T23:21:35Z
dc.date.issued	2025-10-24
dc.identifier.citation	Cell Reports Sustainability, 2025, 2, (10)
dc.identifier.issn	2949-7906
dc.identifier.issn	2949-7906
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/193651
dc.description.abstract	Phasing out coal is central to China's low-carbon transition but entails uneven socio-economic impacts across regions. Here, we develop a multidimensional energy transition vulnerability index (ETVI) to assess city-level vulnerability to coal phase-out across 281 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2019. The results show that although overall vulnerability has declined, regional disparities have widened, with the most vulnerable cities concentrated in Northern and Western China and the least vulnerable along the southeastern coast. Spatial clustering analysis reveals persistent high-high and low-low vulnerability patterns. By integrating ETVI with per capita CO₂ emissions, we identify differentiated decarbonization pathways that align mitigation priorities with local energy transition capacities. These findings highlight the need for regionally adaptive policies to support a just and inclusive energy transition within China's national climate strategy.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	CELL PRESS
dc.relation.ispartof	Cell Reports Sustainability
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100438
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Evaluating regional disparities in socio-economic vulnerability to coal phase-out across Chinese cities
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (International)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (International)/Australia-China Relations Institute
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Australia China Relations Institute Research Centre (ACRI)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-02-19T23:21:30Z
pubs.issue	10
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	2
utslib.citation.issue	10

Abstract:

Phasing out coal is central to China's low-carbon transition but entails uneven socio-economic impacts across regions. Here, we develop a multidimensional energy transition vulnerability index (ETVI) to assess city-level vulnerability to coal phase-out across 281 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2019. The results show that although overall vulnerability has declined, regional disparities have widened, with the most vulnerable cities concentrated in Northern and Western China and the least vulnerable along the southeastern coast. Spatial clustering analysis reveals persistent high-high and low-low vulnerability patterns. By integrating ETVI with per capita CO₂ emissions, we identify differentiated decarbonization pathways that align mitigation priorities with local energy transition capacities. These findings highlight the need for regionally adaptive policies to support a just and inclusive energy transition within China's national climate strategy.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/193651