This article utilizes the first batch of three national pilot zone (Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou) for ecological conservationas a quasi-natural experiment. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2009 to 2022, it employs the synthetic control method and mediated effects test models to examine the impact of pilot policies for ecological civilization construction on regional economic growth, energy conservation, and emission reduction. The findings suggest that the national pilot zone for ecological conservation has significantly increased GDP and per capita GDP, while also reducing carbon emission intensity and energy consumption per 10 000 yuan of GDP. These results confirm that pilot policies for ecological civilization construction are beneficial for achieving both regional economic growth and energy conservation and emission reduction. Furthermore, this study reveals that pilot policies for ecological civilization construction have a certain heterogeneous impact on regional economic growth and energy conservation, and emission reduction. The pilot policies for ecological civilization construction can drive regional economic growth by leveraging the effects of ecological environment improvement, green technology innovation, and industrial structure upgrading, and can promote regional energy conservation and emission reduction by relying on the effects of ecological environment improvement, green industry development, and green technology innovation.
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