China's low-carbon city pilot (LCCP) scheme is a broad economic and social systemic transition. Current analyses only consider the unilateral impact of the LCCP scheme on the environment without comprehensively assessing the total environmental quality (TEQ). We use the panel data set extracted from the satellite, including information on biodiversity, vegetation coverage, water resources, soil pollution, contamination pressure, and frequency of environmental pollution events. Then we employ a time-varying difference-in-difference model to detect the causal effect of the LCCP scheme on urban TEQ. We firstly find that the scheme can ameliorate urban TEQ. Secondly, the ameliorating effect of the scheme is more obvious in cities of the eastern region, high economic level, resource-dependent, and high industrial level. Finally, facilitating green technology innovation and raising public environmental awareness are crucial to achieve the scheme’s objectives. This study provides convincing evidence for the promotion of the LUCC scheme in developing countries.
 

Low-carbon city pilot scheme; Total environment quality; Remote sensing; Difference-in-difference; Quasi-natural experiment