Practices, experiences, and insights from major developed economies on green and low-carbon technology innovation policies

Authors

Baihe GU, Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaFollow
Hongqian WANG, School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Yuling SUN, National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaFollow
Dan CHEN, National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Keywords

green and low-carbon transformation, technological innovation, new quality productive forces, international experience, policy recommendations

Document Type

Policy & Management Research

Abstract

The transition toward green and low-carbon development has become a significant global trend for future growth. This study focuses on policy frameworks that support innovation in green and low-carbon technologies. It reviews the practices of major developed economies, such as the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan in this field, and synthesizes their experiences across key dimensions such as industrial policy, innovation actors, innovation ecosystems, funding mechanisms, and international cooperation. Drawing on these insights, and taking into account China’s unique advantages and challenges in green and low-carbon technological innovation, the paper offers policy recommendations aimed at enhancing and optimizing China’s innovation policies in this domain.

First page

342

Last Page

351

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

References

1. Acemoglu D, Aghion P, Bursztyn L, et al. The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 2012, 102(1): 131-166.

2. Burgess M G, Van Boven L, Wagner G, et al. Supply, demand and polarization challenges facing US climate policies. Nature Climate Change, 2024, 14(2): 134-142.

3. Fink A L, Holt M, Kuiken T, et al. Trump Administration Initial FY2026 Energy and Water Appropriations Request: In Brief. (2025-06-09)[2025-06-26]. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48551.

4. European Commission. What is the Innovation Fund?. (2020-2030)[2025-06-26]. https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-funding-climate-action/innovation-fund/what-innovation-fund_en.

5. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Green Innovation Fund (2021). [2025-06-26]. https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/energy_environment/global_warming/gifund/index.html.

6. UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero & Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Net-Zero Innovation Portfolio (2021-03-03)[2025-06-26]. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/net-zero-innovation-portfolio.

7. European Investment Fund. EIF for SMEs. (2024-03-01)[2025-06-26]. https://www.eif.org/EIF_for/sme_finance/index.htm.

8. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Japan Climate Transition Bond Framework. (2023-11-30)[2025-06-26]. https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/energy_environment/transition_finance/index.html.

9. European Investment Bank, CommissionEuropean. Breakthrough Energy Ventures-Europe (BEV-E). (2019-05-30)[2025-06-26]. https://www.eib.org/en/products/equity/funds/breakthrough-energy-ventures-europe.

10. 万攀兵, 杨冕, 陈林. 环境技术标准何以影响中国制造业绿色转型——基于技术改造的视角. 中国工业经济, 2021, (9): 118-136. Wan P B, Yang M, Chen L. How do environmental technology standards affect the green transition of China’s manufacturing industry—A perspective from technological transformation. China Industrial Economics, 2021, (9): 118-136. (in Chinese)

11. Xu L, Yang L L, Li D, et al. Asymmetric effects of heterogeneous environmental standards on green technology innovation: Evidence from China. Energy Economics, 2023, 117: 106479.

12. CommissionEuropean. Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). (2024-07-18) [2025-06-26]. https://commission.europa.eu/energy-climate-change-environment/standards-tools-and-labels/products-labelling-rules-and-requirements/ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en.

13. International Energy Agency. Top Runner Programme—Policies. [2025-06-26]. https://www.iea.org/policies/1945-top-runner-programme.

14. California Air Resources Board. CARB updates the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. (2024-11-08)[2025-06-26]. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/news/carb-updates-low-carbon-fuel-standard-increase-access-cleaner-fuels-and-zero-emission.

15. Zhu J M, Fan Y C, Deng X H, et al. Low-carbon innovation induced by emissions trading in China. Nature Communications, 2019, 10(1): 4088.

16. Calel R, Dechezleprêtre A. Environmental policy and directed technological change: Evidence from the European carbon market. Review of Economics and Statistics, 2016, 98(1): 173-191.

17. Teixidó J, Verde S F, Nicolli F. The impact of the EU Emissions Trading System on low-carbon technological change: The empirical evidence. Ecological Economics, 2019, 164: 106347.

18. California Climate Investments & California Air Resources Board. California Cap-and-Trade Program. (2013-11-01) [2025-06-26]. https://www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

19. Malhotra A, Schmidt T S. Accelerating low-carbon innovation. Joule, 2020, 4(11): 2259-2267.

20. International Energy Agency (IEA). Energy Technology Perspectives 2024. [2025-06-26]. https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-technology-perspectives-2024.

Recommended Citation

GU, Baihe; WANG, Hongqian; SUN, Yuling; and CHEN, Dan (2026) "Practices, experiences, and insights from major developed economies on green and low-carbon technology innovation policies," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 41 : Iss. 2 , Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3724/j.issn.1000-3045.20250701003
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol41/iss2/11