Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency
Abstract China’s digital economy is currently thriving, with the “dual carbon” targets representing a significant pursuit of economic development. The role of the digital economy in achieving these targets warrants detailed discussion. Using urban panel data from China spanning 2011 to 2021, this pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87098-1 |
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| _version_ | 1832571673720651776 |
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| author | Xin Liu Liang Chen Yifu Lu Ming Chang Yi Xiao Haonan Yang Deyuan Kong Lili Zhang |
| author_facet | Xin Liu Liang Chen Yifu Lu Ming Chang Yi Xiao Haonan Yang Deyuan Kong Lili Zhang |
| author_sort | Xin Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract China’s digital economy is currently thriving, with the “dual carbon” targets representing a significant pursuit of economic development. The role of the digital economy in achieving these targets warrants detailed discussion. Using urban panel data from China spanning 2011 to 2021, this paper empirically examines the impact of the digital economy on urban carbon emissions. The findings reveal several key points: Firstly, the digital economy significantly reduces urban carbon emissions and enhances efficiency, a conclusion that remains valid after a series of robustness checks. Secondly, there is a notable structural effect, with different dimensions of the digital economy exhibiting varying impacts on urban emission reduction and efficiency enhancement. Thirdly, green economic efficiency and green technological innovation are crucial mechanisms through which the digital economy facilitates urban carbon emission reduction and efficiency improvement, operating through green development and innovation channels. Fourthly, industrial structure upgrading is a key nonlinear factor reducing the digital economy’s impact on carbon reduction, while the digital economy’s effect on urban carbon efficiency shows a U-shaped pattern. Lastly, the impact of the digital economy on urban carbon emissions displays significant heterogeneity across cities of different locations, tiers, and characteristics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a879921d27444115ae9726f1fcee7bef |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a879921d27444115ae9726f1fcee7bef2025-02-02T12:24:35ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-87098-1Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiencyXin Liu0Liang Chen1Yifu Lu2Ming Chang3Yi Xiao4Haonan Yang5Deyuan Kong6Lili Zhang7School of Finance and Accounting, Chengdu Jincheng CollegeSchool of Finance and Accounting, Chengdu Jincheng CollegeCollege of Business and Economics, Australian Capital Territory , Australian National UniversityState Key Laboratory of GeoHazard Prevention and GeoEnvironment Protection, Chengdu University of TechnologyCollege of Business, Chengdu University of TechnologyCollege of Business, Chengdu University of TechnologyCollege of Business, Southwest Jiaotong University Hope CollegeSchool of Finance and Accounting, Chengdu Jincheng CollegeAbstract China’s digital economy is currently thriving, with the “dual carbon” targets representing a significant pursuit of economic development. The role of the digital economy in achieving these targets warrants detailed discussion. Using urban panel data from China spanning 2011 to 2021, this paper empirically examines the impact of the digital economy on urban carbon emissions. The findings reveal several key points: Firstly, the digital economy significantly reduces urban carbon emissions and enhances efficiency, a conclusion that remains valid after a series of robustness checks. Secondly, there is a notable structural effect, with different dimensions of the digital economy exhibiting varying impacts on urban emission reduction and efficiency enhancement. Thirdly, green economic efficiency and green technological innovation are crucial mechanisms through which the digital economy facilitates urban carbon emission reduction and efficiency improvement, operating through green development and innovation channels. Fourthly, industrial structure upgrading is a key nonlinear factor reducing the digital economy’s impact on carbon reduction, while the digital economy’s effect on urban carbon efficiency shows a U-shaped pattern. Lastly, the impact of the digital economy on urban carbon emissions displays significant heterogeneity across cities of different locations, tiers, and characteristics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87098-1Digital EconomyCarbon emissionsCarbon Emission reductionCarbon Efficiency Enhancement |
| spellingShingle | Xin Liu Liang Chen Yifu Lu Ming Chang Yi Xiao Haonan Yang Deyuan Kong Lili Zhang Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency Scientific Reports Digital Economy Carbon emissions Carbon Emission reduction Carbon Efficiency Enhancement |
| title | Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency |
| title_full | Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency |
| title_fullStr | Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency |
| title_short | Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency |
| title_sort | research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency |
| topic | Digital Economy Carbon emissions Carbon Emission reduction Carbon Efficiency Enhancement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87098-1 |
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