Variable measurement.

This study directly aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), i.e., SDG-13 and SDG-4. Carbon emissions (CO2e) are primarily addressed under SDG-13: Climate Action, which aims to combat climate change and its impacts. CO2e reduction efforts contribute to achieving this goal by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. SDG 4: Quality Education aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. It emphasizes explicitly lifelong learning opportunities and targets higher education (HE) access to improve skills for sustainable development. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the determinants of CO2e in China and the role of HE under the extended STIRPAT model. This study utilizes the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) methods using the time series data from 1985 to 2023. The finding shows that total population, GDP, and industry positively affect CO2e, while technological innovation and higher education negatively affect CO2e in China.本研究与可持续发展目标（Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs）直接契合，具体涉及SDG-13与SDG-4。其中，二氧化碳当量（CO₂e）碳排放主要由SDG-13“气候行动（Climate Action）”目标所涵盖，该目标旨在应对气候变化及其带来的各类影响；通过开展二氧化碳当量减排工作以减缓温室气体排放，可助力该目标的实现。SDG-4为“优质教育（Quality Education）”目标，旨在保障全民享有包容、公平的优质教育，明确强调终身学习机会，并将提升高等教育（Higher Education, HE）的可及性作为重要抓手，以增强可持续发展所需的技能储备。据此，本研究旨在基于拓展的STIRPAT模型（Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology），探究中国二氧化碳当量排放的影响因素，以及高等教育在此过程中的作用。本研究采用1985年至2023年的时间序列数据，运用完全修正最小二乘法（Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares, FMOLS）与动态普通最小二乘法（Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares, DOLS）方法开展实证分析。研究结果显示，中国的总人口、国内生产总值（GDP）与产业发展对二氧化碳当量排放具有正向影响，而技术创新与高等教育则对其产生负向影响。