Nexus Between Energy Policy and Environmental Performance in China: The Moderating Role of Renewable Energy Patents.

The socioeconomic and environmental considerations of energy production have become crucial due to the increasing complexity of the relationship between energy and the environment. In this context, this study aims to develop possible mechanisms for perspectives of energy policy on environmental by exploring the mediating role of renewable energy patents. The study used a non-radial data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and panel data model for 30 Chinese provinces by taking the panel data from 2010 to 2017. The results show that the overall environmental performance index (EPI) of Chinese areas is improved by 9.88% from 2010 to 2017. Further, The econometric model findings offer evidence that provincial renewable energy policies and emission reduction policies positively impact the enhancement of EPI. The results also show that the P values of the single-threshold model and the double-threshold model both passed the 1% significance test, so it can be concluded that there is a double-threshold effect. Finally, the research findings posed several policy implications based on the research findings.