Green Growth, Economic Development, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: An Evaluation Based on Cointegration and Vector Error Correction Models

1^st Reviewer

The research is interesting, and supported by relevant discussion, however, I would suggest, adding a paragraph or two on the impacts of Covid-19/pandemics on emissions and if the impacts that it has on lifestyles, working from home, less commute and reduced flights has been significant in reduction of emissions during the pandemic. I understand it has more global implications than local, which is the focus of this study, but it's related to Green Growth, Economic Development, and Carbon Dioxide and shows that the authors are aware of dynamics and evolving nature of this topic.

The author (s) are thankful for admiring this research. The relevant detail is added as per suggestion.

2^nd Reviewer

Dear authors, after careful reading the reviewer has found some issues that should be addressed in order to improve the quality of the paper: whereas development should be seen as a wider frame, described in introduction about China and should be one part of the introduction (1) Than ecology can be described (2)

The authors are grateful for anonymous reviewers for valuable suggestions.

Line 40-42 The authors should explain the terminology of ecological civilization and high-quality growth – is it something from literature? than state the authors, or own invention?

To discuss the ecological civilization and high-quality growth is authors own invention to examine ecological civilization in terms of growth. 

Line 42-45 I do not understand why the premier was quoted, but if authors find it necessary then the source should be mentioned (like literature in brackets) was it a public speech, web site quote?

The premier was quoted to highlight the importance of the problem. The source (in a speech) is mentioned as per suggestion.

Line 46-47 the five-year plans hold have a literature reference mentioned (literature in brackets)

This indicates 13^th five-year plan goals (2016) need more effort to accomplish and it’s a general statement that’s why we have not mentioned any reference.

Lines 40-60 If the authors find it necessary than some figures and facts should be present

Facts and figures are mentioned as per suggestion.

Line 54-59 the percentage of pollution goals are set, now we are in 2022 the authors then should state what is achieved in percentage or tons of diminishments (in coal, CO2..) number of coal fired equipment / machinery / factories

The suggested percentages is added as per suggestion.

Lines 68-72 some literature should be mentioned about fossil fuels, which have led to climate and environmental changes, such as the greenhouse effect, water pollution

The relevant literature is added as per suggestion.

Line 71 What can be felt most directly from the people’s perspective is the local environmental pollution, especially smog and other air pollution Some literature should be mentioned, we cannot know what people think without some survey findings

The respectable reviewer is right, but the statement is too general. That’s why we have restructured this sentence and highlighted in red color.

Line 77-79 maybe to state how much is it as part of the agreement in Paris for the country of China and then for the Province

The required information as added as per suggestion.

Line 166-168 to put some literature findings about urban greening, also put in this pause after line 168 the lines 178-180

The more relevant literature is added as per suggestion of anonymous reviewer.

Line 214-217 very broad sense – for a long time, set time frame according to some authors or state some literature / or erase sentence

The sentences are restructured as per instructions.

Line 219 -221 this sentence is cut in two.

The sentence is divided into two.

Suppose this dangerous situation is not alerted and contained. In that case, human society Line 222-223 poetically said / or erase sentence

The sentence is erased.

What do authors this is the end of the road, what is healthy development – explain the term, find some literature…will not achieve sustainable and healthy development and eventually run out of resources and come to the end of the road.

The term is erased.

In figures 1 to 4 some figures/numbers may be shown on the graph for example for each decade 1993 /2000/2010/2018 to see evident rise on the curves

The figure shows the trend analysis based on yearly data.

Tables 1 to 4,6, 7,8 should be without grid lines inside and 1 point wide upper and last line – table 5 is good example but without bolded lines

The tables are formatted as per suggestions of respectable reviewer.

Figures 6, 7 to be put in center of text now are aside left

Figures are kept in center as per suggestion.

Table 15 should be changed, we are in year 2022 so the 2019,2020,2021,2022 are no predictions, start from 2023 to 2025

The previous and current years are removed as per suggestion.

Line 506 – 510 state the refence of the 5-year plan as in introduction

The referred five-year plan has included into introduction.

In suggestions line 601-603 figures are unnecessary, / erase them

Figures are erased as per suggestion

if authors want figures than figures for all should be referred- impact of economic activity and carbon emission (figure)… expanding scale of economic. (figure) … automobile market and so on  

The figures are removed from suggestion part

I think suggestions should be either general or exact with figures / authors will decide which type to use

The author (s) decided to use general suggestions.

3^rd Reviewer

This is an interesting paper that methodologically explores in-depth the relationships between carbon emissions and GDP growth in china. the modeling is well executed, and one model is used after the other for cross-checking and sensitivity analysis. the paper should be accepted for publication since it contributes to the body of knowledge

We are grateful to anonymous reviewer for appreciating our paper and accepting it as it is for publication.