Assessing China's energy‐related efficiency towards SDG7 and influencing factors

With scholars paying increasing attention to energy sustainability, integrating energy sustainable utilization into the energy‐related assessment framework is particularly useful for achieving SDG7. This study empirically assesses the energy‐related efficiency (EE) comprised of the energy utilize stage and energy sustainable stage in China using a dynamic two‐stage data envelopment analysis model, and its influencing factors including digital economy with fixed‐effect models. The findings reveal a slight downward trend of EE from 2011 to 2020, primarily due to the poor performance of energy utilize stage. The subregional analysis illustrates that increasing clean energy use (CEU) is more beneficial to energy efficiency than reducing carbon emissions (CER). Dagum Gini coefficients indicate a growing disparity between regions. Additionally, a “U‐shaped” relationship between digital economy and EE is found, but two‐thirds provinces of China have not yet surpassed the turning point. Moreover, different degrees of CEU and CER will influence the impact of digital economy on EE. Environmental regulations and green technology innovation play positive moderating roles in the “U‐shaped” relationship. This study recommends to stimulate the energy sustainable use through higher adoption of clean energy sources and carbon emissions reduction, as well as highlight the green value of the digital economy.