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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Does the Digital Economy Matter for Carbon
Emissions in China? Mechanism and Path
1
School of Business, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
2
Graduate Business School, UCSI University, Kualua Lumpur, Malaysia
Submission date: 2024-07-28
Final revision date: 2024-08-24
Acceptance date: 2024-09-13
Online publication date: 2024-11-21
Publication date: 2025-11-04
Corresponding author
Deyin Zhang
School of Business, Jiangsu Ocean University, Cangwu Road #59, Haizhou District, 222005, Lianyungang, China
School of Business, Jiangsu Ocean University, Cangwu Road #59, Haizhou District, 222005, Lianyungang, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(6):7123-7135
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Currently, the rapid expansion of the digital economy is essential for advancing the healthy
development of the economy. Utilizing China’s provincial data for the years 2011–2020, this study
examines the impact mechanism of the digital economy on carbon emissions by using a mediation
model, a moderating model, and a threshold model. The results indicate that: (1) the digital economy
significantly reduces carbon emissions, even with variations between different regions; (2) it also
decreases carbon emissions through enhanced energy efficiency and innovations in technology.
Enhancing industrial structure and optimizing the distribution of resources can bolster this reduction
effect; (3) the degree of financial development and the reduction of carbon emissions are positively
correlated and are subject to a dual threshold. Therefore, the government ought to seize opportunities
for "new infrastructure" and "new digital technology" development to achieve "dual carbon".
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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