{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T07:52:53Z","timestamp":1772610773051,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":80,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]],"date-time":"2026-02-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772150400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"the Key Program of the National Social Science Fund of China","award":["23AGL031"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["23AGL031"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100007129","name":"Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["ZR2025QC761"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["ZR2025QC761"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100007129","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"the National Natural Science Found of China","award":["72272042"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["72272042"]}]},{"name":"Central University Basic Research Operating Fund Project","award":["3072025WK0906"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["3072025WK0906"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Systems"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Amid global climate change, China\u2019s energy-intensive industries face substantial challenges in achieving low-carbon transformation. While existing studies largely focus on individual determinants of emission reduction, insufficient attention has been paid to the dynamic interactions among multiple dimensions. To complement this perspective, this study integrates co-evolution theory with the technology\u2013organization\u2013environment (TOE) framework, applying dynamic fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to panel data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2005 and 2022. The results indicate that low carbon intensity arises from the synergistic interaction of factors rather than isolated elements, whereas high intensity is driven by systemic mismatches rather than the mere absence of low-carbon conditions. This research identifies five enabling configurations, led by the digital-green dual drive, alongside three inhibiting pathways, most notably the regulation-volatility trap. Evolutionary trajectories exhibit significant regional variation: the eastern region leverages digital-market mechanisms through innovation strategies, whereas the central region shifted toward government-led upgrading following the 2016 supply-side structural reform. The western region relies on top-down administrative governance to compensate for limited digital capabilities. Meanwhile, the northeast region remains trapped in a composite lock-in due to the structural misalignment between legacy industrial scale and the integration of digital and green innovations. These findings provide a systems-oriented basis for differentiated policymaking in emerging economies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/systems14030249","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]],"date-time":"2026-02-27T15:52:38Z","timestamp":1772207558000},"page":"249","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Systemic Configuration Pathways for Carbon Emission Reduction in Energy-Intensive Industries: A Dynamic fsQCA Analysis Within the TOE Framework"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Wanhong","family":"Li","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-7578-5751","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yuqing","family":"Zhan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Di","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-7112-5459","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Na","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Management Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111765","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2020.111765","article-title":"Factors behind CO2 Emission Reduction in Chinese Heavy Industries: Do Environmental Regulations Matter?","volume":"145","author":"Ouyang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110712","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2020.110712","article-title":"Globalization and Carbon Emissions: Is There Any Role of Agriculture Value-Added, Financial Development, and Natural Resource Rent in the Aftermath of COP21?","volume":"268","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115808","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2022.115808","article-title":"Spatial Correlation Network Structure of China\u2019s Building Carbon Emissions and Its Driving Factors: A Social Network Analysis Method","volume":"320","author":"Huo","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104406","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trd.2024.104406","article-title":"Evaluation of Urban Transportation Carbon Footprint\u2014Artificial Intelligence Based Solution","volume":"136","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Transp. Res. Part D Transp. Environ."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105704","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eneco.2021.105704","article-title":"How Does Industrial Structure Adjustment Reduce CO2 Emissions? Spatial and Mediation Effects Analysis for China","volume":"105","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Energy Econ."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106636","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eneco.2023.106636","article-title":"Does China\u2019s Low-Carbon City Pilot Intervention Limit Electricity Consumption? An Analysis of Industrial Energy Efficiency Using Time-Varying DID Model","volume":"121","author":"Yang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Energy Econ."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113405","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2023.113405","article-title":"Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions Forecasting for Industrial Processes: Status, Challenges and Perspectives","volume":"182","author":"Hu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"909","DOI":"10.1080\/09644016.2018.1488484","article-title":"The Green State and Industrial Decarbonisation","volume":"28","author":"Hildingsson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Environ. Politics"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spc.2024.07.025","article-title":"Low-Carbon Transition Risks in the Energy Sector: A Systematic Review","volume":"50","author":"Sun","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sustain. Prod. Consum."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"514","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-023-06486-7","article-title":"Global Iron and Steel Plant CO2 Emissions and Carbon-Neutrality Pathways","volume":"622","author":"Lei","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118583","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2022.118583","article-title":"Assessing the Effects of Emissions Trading Systems on Energy Consumption and Energy Mix","volume":"310","author":"Tan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121641","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2024.121641","article-title":"How Can Green Finance Effectively Promote Low-Carbon Cities? Evidence from 237 Cities in China","volume":"365","author":"Xu","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114469","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2024.114469","article-title":"Artificial Intelligence and Public Environmental Concern: Impacts on Green Innovation Transformation in Energy-Intensive Enterprises","volume":"198","author":"Zhao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1080\/13662716.2023.2271859","article-title":"A Tale of Two Cities: Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy in China\u2019s Green Industries","volume":"31","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ind. Innov."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109161","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecolind.2022.109161","article-title":"Synergy and Heterogeneity of Driving Factors of Carbon Emissions in China\u2019s Energy-Intensive Industries","volume":"142","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ecol. Indic."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118004","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2019.118004","article-title":"Carbon Reduction Potential Based on Life Cycle Assessment of China\u2019s Aluminium Industry-a Perspective at the Province Level","volume":"239","author":"Guo","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1102","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2018.02.304","article-title":"A Decomposition Analysis of Energy-Related CO2 Emissions in Chinese Six High-Energy Intensive Industries","volume":"184","author":"Du","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1016\/j.strueco.2024.12.003","article-title":"Can Big Data Aggregation Help Businesses Save Energy and Reduce Emissions? Quasi-Natural Experiment in Big Data Comprehensive Test","volume":"72","author":"Lv","year":"2025","journal-title":"Struct. Change Econ. Dyn."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116354","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2019.116354","article-title":"Understanding Energy Efficiency and Its Drivers: An Empirical Analysis of China\u2019s 14 Coal Intensive Industries","volume":"190","author":"Qi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125507","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2020.125507","article-title":"Temporospatial Pattern of Carbon Emission Efficiency of China\u2019s Energy-Intensive Industries and Its Policy Implications","volume":"286","author":"Zhu","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107771","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eiar.2024.107771","article-title":"China\u2019s Non-Energy-Intensive Sectors Have Greater Carbon Reduction Potential: Based on a Three-Tier SDA Approach from Energy Substitution Perspective","volume":"112","author":"Qin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Environ. Impact Assess. Rev."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1416","DOI":"10.1177\/0958305X221140567","article-title":"Reduce Carbon Emissions Efficiently: The Influencing Factors and Decoupling Relationships of Carbon Emission from High-Energy Consumption and High-Emission Industries in China","volume":"35","author":"Guo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Energy Environ."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5178","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-022-22546-3","article-title":"Analysis on the Dynamic Evolution of the Equilibrium Point of \u201cCarbon Emission Penetration\u201d for Energy-Intensive Industries in China: Based on a Factor-Driven Perspective","volume":"30","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142384","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2024.142384","article-title":"Exploring the Green and Low-Carbon Development Pathway for an Energy-Intensive Industrial Park in China","volume":"459","author":"Zhao","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.20517\/cf.2024.26","article-title":"Mapping Carbon Emission Networks in China: Insights from Province-Level Spatial Differentiation","volume":"3","author":"Liu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Carbon Footpr."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"505","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2015.10.140","article-title":"Spatiotemporal Variations of Energy-Related CO2 Emissions in China and Its Influencing Factors: An Empirical Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data","volume":"55","author":"Wang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spc.2023.03.002","article-title":"A Spatial Analysis of an Effective Path for Low-Carbon Development of Energy-Intensive Industries","volume":"37","author":"Xu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sustain. Prod. Consum."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1757","DOI":"10.1007\/s11625-022-01094-2","article-title":"Carbon Neutrality Commitment for China: From Vision to Action","volume":"17","author":"Dong","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sustain. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1007\/s43979-023-00071-7","article-title":"Climate Finance at a Crossroads: It Is High Time to Use the Global Solution for Global Problems","volume":"2","author":"Qi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Carbon Neutrality"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113938","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2023.113938","article-title":"When Attention to Climate Change Matters: The Impact of Climate Risk Disclosure on Firm Market Value","volume":"186","author":"Vestrelli","year":"2024","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2020.123155","article-title":"Data-driven sustainable intelligent manufacturing based on demand response for energy-intensive industries","volume":"274","author":"Ma","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, B., and Zhang, C. (2025). Toward Transition and Upgrading: Carbon Emission Performance and Its Influencing Factors in China\u2019s Energy-Intensive Industries. Environ. Dev. Sustain.","DOI":"10.1007\/s10668-025-06078-7"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120890","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2021.120890","article-title":"Green Technology Innovation Efficiency of Energy-Intensive Industries in China from the Perspective of Shared Resources: Dynamic Change and Improvement Path","volume":"170","author":"Zhu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119206","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2023.119206","article-title":"Pathways to Improve Energy Efficiency under Carbon Emission Constraints in Iron and Steel Industry: Using EBM, NCA and QCA Approaches","volume":"348","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117599","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2019.07.074","article-title":"Environmental Regulation and Carbon Emission: The Mediation Effect of Technical Efficiency","volume":"236","author":"Pei","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3769","DOI":"10.15244\/pjoes\/164406","article-title":"Efficiency and Influencing Factors of Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction in High-Energy-Consuming Industries Driven by Technological Innovation","volume":"32","author":"Sun","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pol. J. Environ. Stud."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112344","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2022.112344","article-title":"Is Information and Communications Technology Effective for Industrial Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction? Evidence from Three Energy-Intensive Industries in China","volume":"160","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101911","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techsoc.2022.101911","article-title":"How Digital Industries Affect China\u2019s Carbon Emissions? Analysis of the Direct and Indirect Structural Effects","volume":"68","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Technol. Soc."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122317","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2024.122317","article-title":"What Drives the Relationship between Digitalization and Energy Demand? Exploring Heterogeneity in German Manufacturing Firms","volume":"369","author":"Axenbeck","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107796","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2024.107796","article-title":"Challenges and Opportunities for the Application of Digital Twins in Hard-to-Abate Industries: A Review","volume":"209","author":"Hafeez","year":"2024","journal-title":"Resour. Conserv. Recycl."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G., and The PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med., 6.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000097"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"471","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtrangeo.2012.01.021","article-title":"A Socio-Technical Analysis of Low-Carbon Transitions: Introducing the Multi-Level Perspective into Transport Studies","volume":"24","author":"Geels","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Transp. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2111","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1467-6486.2003.00414.x","article-title":"Co-evolutionary Dynamics within and between Firms: From Evolution to Co-evolution","volume":"40","author":"Volberda","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Manag. Stud."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173551","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2024.173551","article-title":"Green Technology Innovation and Carbon Emission Efficiency: The Moderating Role of Environmental Uncertainty","volume":"938","author":"Miao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102955","DOI":"10.1016\/j.erss.2023.102955","article-title":"Decarbonizing the Chemical Industry: A Systematic Review of Sociotechnical Systems, Technological Innovations, and Policy Options","volume":"96","author":"Chung","year":"2023","journal-title":"Energy Res. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1320","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eap.2024.05.016","article-title":"The Impact of Green Finance on Companies\u2019 Overcapacity: Evidence from Green Financial Reform and Innovation Policy in China","volume":"82","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Econ. Anal. Policy"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1111\/jifm.12218","article-title":"Go Green: How Does Green Credit Policy Promote Corporate Green Transformation in China","volume":"36","author":"Tan","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Int. Financ. Manag. Account."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123783","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2024.123783","article-title":"Techno-Economic Assessment of High-Temperature Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage System, Insights from a Study Case in Burgwedel, Germany","volume":"372","author":"Zhou","year":"2024","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114344","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2024.114344","article-title":"Green Innovation and Carbon Emission Performance: The Role of Digital Economy","volume":"195","author":"Zhao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1007\/s11187-017-9867-5","article-title":"The Digital Entrepreneurial Ecosystem","volume":"49","author":"Sussan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Small Bus. Econ."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138259","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2023.138259","article-title":"A Digital Life-Cycle Management Framework for Sustainable Smart Manufacturing in Energy Intensive Industries","volume":"419","author":"Chinnathai","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123081","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2024.123081","article-title":"Will Artificial Intelligence Make Energy Cleaner? Evidence of Nonlinearity","volume":"363","author":"Lee","year":"2024","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1488","DOI":"10.1257\/aer.20160696","article-title":"The Race between Man and Machine: Implications of Technology for Growth, Factor Shares, and Employment","volume":"108","author":"Acemoglu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am. Econ. Rev."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103122","DOI":"10.1016\/j.technovation.2024.103122","article-title":"The Holistic Role of Multi-Level Government in Transformative Innovation Process: Theoretical Framework and Evidence from China","volume":"139","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Technovation"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100904","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eist.2024.100904","article-title":"The Transformative Capacity of Public Sector Organisations in Sustainability Transitions","volume":"53","author":"Haakonsson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environ. Innov. Soc. Transit."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2016.08.033","article-title":"The Signal Effect of Government R&D Subsidies in China: Does Ownership Matter?","volume":"117","author":"Wu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"899","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2017.04.100","article-title":"Estimating Energy Conservation Potential in China\u2019s Energy Intensive Industries with Rebound Effect","volume":"156","author":"Lin","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114522","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2025.114522","article-title":"Can New Energy Demonstration Cities Break through the Multiple Carbon Lock-in? Evidence Based on Double Machine Learning","volume":"199","author":"Hu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122330","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2023.122330","article-title":"How Does Environmental Policy Uncertainty Influence Corporate Green Investments?","volume":"189","author":"Hu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107020","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eneco.2023.107020","article-title":"Climate Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese a-Share Listed Industrial Corporations","volume":"127","author":"Bai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Energy Econ."},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106545","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eneco.2023.106545","article-title":"New Media Environment, Environmental Regulation and Corporate Green Technology Innovation: Evidence from China","volume":"119","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Energy Econ."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1064","DOI":"10.1016\/j.iref.2024.01.071","article-title":"Do More Hands Make Work Easier? Public Supervision and Corporate Green Innovation","volume":"91","author":"Mao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. Rev. Econ. Financ."},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.22218\/JMDM\/22016","article-title":"A General Approach to Panel Data Set-Theoretic Research","volume":"1","year":"2016","journal-title":"JMDM"},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120878","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2024.120878","article-title":"A Study on the Impact of ESG Rating on Green Technology Innovation in Enterprises: An Empirical Study Based on Informal Environmental Governance","volume":"358","author":"Chang","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"320","DOI":"10.1057\/s41599-024-02787-y","article-title":"Assessing the Effect of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Green Innovation: Mechanism Identification and Spatial-Temporal Characteristics","volume":"11","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Humanit. Soc. Sci. Commun."},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114010","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2024.114010","article-title":"How Does Artificial Intelligence Affect High-Quality Energy Development? Achieving a Clean Energy Transition Society","volume":"186","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1006250627410","article-title":"Governance in the Participative Organisation: Freedom, Creativity and Ethics","volume":"21","author":"Collier","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Bus. Ethics"},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e041516","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-041516","article-title":"Government Management Capacities and the Containment of COVID-19: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study across Chinese Cities","volume":"11","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2017.04.042","article-title":"Sustainable Development of China\u2019s Energy Intensive Industries: From the Aspect of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction","volume":"77","author":"Lin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aos.2008.07.001","article-title":"Environmental Uncertainty and Managers\u2019 Use of Discretionary Accruals","volume":"34","author":"Ghosh","year":"2009","journal-title":"Account. Organ. Soc."},{"key":"ref_71","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124913","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2020.124913","article-title":"The Drivers of China\u2019s National and Regional Energy Consumption Structure under Environmental Regulation","volume":"285","author":"Xia","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_72","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"(2020). Standard Map of the People\u2019s Republic of China (1:16 000 000) (Standard No. GS (2020)4630).","DOI":"10.14218\/ERHM.2020.00009"},{"key":"ref_73","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144342","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2024.144342","article-title":"Exploring the Dynamic Synergistic Effect of Combined Factors on Urban Energy Efficiency: A Set-Theoretic Configurational Approach","volume":"485","author":"Chen","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_74","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ragin, C.C. (2008). Net Effects Analysis versus Configurational Analysis: An Empirical Demonstration. Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond, University of Chicago Press.","DOI":"10.7208\/chicago\/9780226702797.001.0001"},{"key":"ref_75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schneider, C.Q., and Wagemann, C. (2012). Set-Theoretic Methods for the Social Sciences: A Guide to Qualitative Comparative Analysis, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139004244"},{"key":"ref_76","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101002","DOI":"10.1016\/j.seps.2020.101002","article-title":"The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Carbon Intensity: Evidence from China\u2019s Industrial Sector","volume":"83","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Socio-Econ. Plan. Sci."},{"key":"ref_77","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101023","DOI":"10.1016\/j.seps.2021.101023","article-title":"Institutional Quality and Its Spatial Spillover Effects on Energy Efficiency","volume":"83","author":"Sun","year":"2022","journal-title":"Socio-Econ. Plan. Sci."},{"key":"ref_78","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122837","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2024.122837","article-title":"China Carbon Emission Accounts 2020\u20132021","volume":"360","author":"Xu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_79","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19025","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-02184-8","article-title":"Mechanism and Spatial Spillover Effect of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emission Efficiency in Chinese Provinces","volume":"15","author":"Xia","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_80","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24292","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2025.124292","article-title":"Regional CO2 Emission Efficiency in China and Configurational Paths for Improvement","volume":"220","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"}],"container-title":["Systems"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/14\/3\/249\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T05:12:41Z","timestamp":1772601161000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/14\/3\/249"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]]},"references-count":80,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]}},"alternative-id":["systems14030249"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/systems14030249","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-8954"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-8954","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]]}}}