Abstract

As a new engine to promote high-quality development and a sustainable economy, the digital economy (DE) plays a key role in achieving carbon reduction targets. In this paper, we use the “broadband China (BC)” policy as a proxy variable for the DE and employ the panel data of Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2006 to 2019 to investigate the effect of DE development on carbon emission intensity and its mechanism of action. It is found that (1) DE development significantly reduces the carbon emissions of cities and presents dynamic and sustainable characteristics; (2) the results of mechanism tests indicate that DE development is more inclined to reduce carbon emission intensity by improving regional innovation quality than by improving regional innovation quantity; (3) the impact of DE development on carbon emission intensity differs among cities with different characteristic attributes and different environmental regulation intensity, and the emission reduction effect is more obvious in non-resource-based cities, cities with lower environmental regulation intensity, and cities with weaker environmental target constraints; (4) the impact of DE development and innovation-driven development strategies on reducing carbon emission intensity has a policy linkage effect.

Abstract

Introduction Promoting the development of digital technology is an important step in meeting the challenge of global climate change and achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Methods Based on panel data of Chinese cities from 2006 to 2020, this paper used econometrics to investigate the impact and mechanism of digital technology on carbon emissions. Results The results showed that digital technology can significantly reduce carbon emission intensity and improve carbon emission efficiency. These results remained robust after changing the estimation method, adding policy omission variables, replacing core variables, and solving the endogeneity problem. Digital technology can indirectly reduce carbon emissions by promoting green technological innovation and reducing energy intensity, and it plays a significant role in the carbon emission reduction practices of carbon emission trading policies and comprehensive national big data pilot zones. The replicability, non-exclusivity, and high mobility of digital technology help to accelerate the spread of knowledge and information between different cities, which leads to a spillover effect on carbon emission reductions. Our unconditional quantile regression model results showed that digital technology’s carbon emission reduction effect continuously decreases with increases in carbon dioxide emissions. Discussion The results of this paper provide evidence for the potential use of digital technology in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality, which is of great significance for achieving high-quality innovation and promoting the green transformation of the economy and society.

Abstract

With the proposal of “Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality” goals, China is facing a more serious carbon emissions reduction situation, and how the booming digital economy effectively helps China’s carbon emissions reduction is one of the most urgent things that should be solved. To study the impact of the digital economy on carbon emission intensity, this paper is based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) from 2011 to 2021, and applies the double-fixed effect model and the threshold effect model to study the impact of the digital economy on carbon emission intensity and the mechanism of its action, as well as to analyze the mechanism of the digital economy’s action on carbon emission intensity from the perspective of technological innovation. The results of the study show that: i) The digital economy can reduce the intensity of regional carbon emissions; ii) The carbon emission reduction effect of the digital economy is non-linear, and its carbon emission reduction effect gradually increases with the level of development of the digital economy; iii) In addition to the direct impact of the digital economy on carbon emission intensity, it also has an indirect impact on carbon emissions through technological innovation; iv) There is regional heterogeneity in the carbon emission reduction effect of the digital economy, and the carbon emission reduction effect is more significant in the central and western parts of the country and regions with a high level of human capital development. Based on the conclusions obtained, this paper suggests: i) The rational integration of the digital economy and regional development should be strengthened; ii) Strong provinces in the digital economy should be encouraged to help weaker provinces, to narrow the “digital divide” between provinces; iii) Differentiated development strategies should be formulated in accordance with local conditions, to give full play to the optimal effect of the digital economy in carbon emission reduction.