LAUSR

Abstract Transportation infrastructure plays a fundamental role in reducing pollution emissions to avert global environmental degradation. However, the mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear. This paper aims to provide empirical evidence by investigating the effects of roads on the intensity of air pollutant emissions. Using a city-level data set for the period 2003–2015, we find that roads help to reduce the intensity of pollution emissions in China and induce greener growth performance. Specifically, we test two possible mechanisms through which roads improve environmental performance, and the results suggest that roads have a more positive and significant impact on air pollution reduction when an eco-industrial park is located in a nearby city. There is also evidence that roads can spur green innovation and hence can contribute to regional green performance.