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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Green Effects of Digital Economy:
Evidence from Carbon Emission
Reduction in China
1
Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,
No.1 National Stadium North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
2
School of International Affairs and Public Administration, Ocean University of China,
No.238 Songling Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao 266100, China
3
China Tourism Academy, 9 Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100005, China
Submission date: 2024-04-23
Final revision date: 2024-07-08
Acceptance date: 2024-07-24
Online publication date: 2025-01-08
Publication date: 2025-07-22
Corresponding author
Jinpeng Wu
School of International Affairs and Public Administration, Ocean University of China, No.238 Songling Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao 266100, China
School of International Affairs and Public Administration, Ocean University of China, No.238 Songling Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao 266100, China
Meili Huan
China Tourism Academy, 9 Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100005, China
China Tourism Academy, 9 Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100005, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(5):5975-5987
KEYWORDS
carbon emission reductioncarbon neutralitydigital technologysustainable developmenttechnological progress
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Using a city-level panel data set with 283 cities in China, this study applies a fixed effect model
to estimate the effects of the digital economy on carbon emissions, along with the contribution
of green technology innovation. It shows that the digital economy can not only directly decrease
carbon emissions, but also reduce them through promoting green technology innovation. Moreover,
the effects are heterogeneous among cities in different geographic locations and administrative levels,
as well as policy shocks. In particular, the carbon reduction effect of the digital economy is greater
for cities in the eastern coastal region, cities at higher administrative levels, and cities enjoying
the Big Data Pilot Zone policy. The findings that the digital economy can help prompt green technology
innovation and reduce carbon emissions have implications for developing countries with similar
characteristics to China to promote sustainable development.
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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