Dynamics of Low-Carbon Technology Transitions in Chinese Cities: Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Mechanisms

This study examines a panel of 268 Chinese cities during 2013–2023, employing patent applications in Low-carbon technologies (LCTs) as a proxy indicator for the level of LCTs. The spatiotemporal patterns of LCTs are characterized through integrated Standard Deviation Ellipses and Spatial Autocorrelation Techniques, while their driving mechanisms are investigated using Geographic Detectors. The key findings identified in this study are: (1) The advancement of LCTs exhibits a swift increasing trajectory; (2) The eastern region and provincial capital cities have relatively high levels of LCT, while western cities have lower levels. The overall trajectory of the gravity center moves southwest, and typical global and local spatial autocorrelation characteristics are observed in the cities; (3) Infrastructure construction and government R&D funding significantly drive LCTs, while environmental regulations show limited predictive power.