Correlation of Energy Transition and Coordinated Development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) Region

Abstract

Due to the serious air pollution problem since 2012 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, the Chinese government launched the national strategy of the BTH Coordinated Development (the BTHCD). Meanwhile, energy transition is also a national strategy in the region. What is the relationship between these two strategies, and in particular how can energy transition serve BTHCD strategy? Firstly, the paper identifies the three main areas of the BTHCD strategy, namely, transportation integration, industrial upgrading and transfer, and ecological and environmental protection, and finds that the ultimate goals of the strategy are to promote economic growth and environment protection in the region. Then, an empirical study is conducted by using the BVAR model, which further shows the that energy transition and BTHCD are closely related. Finally, policy recommendations are made for enabling an energy transition that supports the BTHCD.