Evolution of carbon emission efficiency in the construction industry: Evidence from Guangdong-Fujian-Zhejiang coastal urban agglomeration in China

Clarifying the changing characteristics and cyclical evolution of carbon emission efficiency in the construction industry is essential for formulating regional emission reduction policies and promoting cross-regional cooperation. This study focuses on the Guangdong-Fujian-Zhejiang coastal urban agglomeration as the research area and establishes an evaluation framework for the carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry from 2013 to 2022 based on the unexpected output Slack-based measure model. Data Envelopment Analysis is employed to examine the static distribution characteristics, while the Malmquist productivity index model is applied to assess the dynamic evolution patterns. Furthermore, synergistic carbon reduction strategies are proposed to support coordinated regional low-carbon development. Results show that: (1) The carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry in the Guangdong-Fujian-Zhejiang coastal urban agglomeration shows fluctuating growth in space and time, generally growing from west to east, with obvious spatial clustering, but there are large differences in the carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry between cities. (2) The total factor productivity of carbon emission in the construction industry shows positive growth. Among its decomposition indicators, changes in technical efficiency, changes in technological progress and pure technical efficiency promote the carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry, but changes in scale efficiency make a negligible contribution to the carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry. (3) Urban carbon emission efficiency shows obvious static-dynamic characteristics, with relatively high proportions of progressive mode and oscillatory mode, accounting for 37.50% and 31.25% respectively. This study provides a comprehensive static and dynamic analysis of the cyclical changes in the carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry, which provides a scientific basis for the formulation of differentiated energy-saving and emission reduction policies.