IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v205y2024ics0040162524003184.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unveiling the relation between digital technology and low-carbon innovation: Carbon emission trading policy as an antecedent

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Bo
  • Gong, Siyu
  • Yang, Yang

Abstract

While the carbon emission trading policy presents an opportunity for firms to concurrently advance in digital technology and low-carbon innovation, the existing literature falls short in elucidating the relationship between the two. Therefore, based on the sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2021, this study examines the impact of digital technology on low-carbon innovation under the carbon emission trading policy by using DID model, moderating variable and other methods. The results show that digital technology is positively correlated with low-carbon innovation under the carbon emission trading policy. Secondly, digital technology breadth and depth emerge as dual facilitative avenues. However, carbon emission trading schemes appears to curb the impact of the digital technology depth. Thirdly, technological capability is a key resource in moderating the relationship between digital technology and low-carbon innovation. Internal control, however, exerts a significant moderating effect exclusively on digital technology breadth. Finally, drawing from the analysis of company differentiation, the study conclude that smaller firms and research and development (R&D)-oriented firms are better poised to implement strategic plans that harmonize digital technology and low-carbon innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Bo & Gong, Siyu & Yang, Yang, 2024. "Unveiling the relation between digital technology and low-carbon innovation: Carbon emission trading policy as an antecedent," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:205:y:2024:i:c:s0040162524003184
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123522
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162524003184
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123522?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Boqiang Lin & Yongjing Xie, 2024. "Impacts of digital transformation on corporate green technology innovation: Do board characteristics play a role?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1741-1755, May.
    2. Forman, Chris & van Zeebroeck, Nicolas, 2019. "Digital technology adoption and knowledge flows within firms: Can the Internet overcome geographic and technological distance?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    3. Löschel, Andreas & Lutz, Benjamin Johannes & Managi, Shunsuke, 2019. "The impacts of the EU ETS on efficiency and economic performance – An empirical analyses for German manufacturing firms," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 71-95.
    4. Cai, Xiqian & Lu, Yi & Wu, Mingqin & Yu, Linhui, 2016. "Does environmental regulation drive away inbound foreign direct investment? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 73-85.
    5. Hu, Hui & Qi, Shaozhou & Chen, Yuanzhi, 2023. "Using green technology for a better tomorrow: How enterprises and government utilize the carbon trading system and incentive policies," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Zhengxia He & Leyi Kuai & Jianming Wang, 2023. "Driving mechanism model of enterprise green strategy evolution under digital technology empowerment: A case study based on Zhejiang Enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 408-429, January.
    7. Youngjin Yoo & Richard J. Boland & Kalle Lyytinen & Ann Majchrzak, 2012. "Organizing for Innovation in the Digitized World," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(5), pages 1398-1408, October.
    8. Zhou, Fengxiu & Wang, Xiaoyu, 2022. "The carbon emissions trading scheme and green technology innovation in China: A new structural economics perspective," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 365-381.
    9. Yu-Shan Chen, 2008. "The Driver of Green Innovation and Green Image – Green Core Competence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(3), pages 531-543, September.
    10. Chen, Zhongfei & Zhang, Xiao & Chen, Fanglin, 2021. "Do carbon emission trading schemes stimulate green innovation in enterprises? Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    11. Albort-Morant, Gema & Leal-Millán, Antonio & Cepeda-Carrión, Gabriel, 2016. "The antecedents of green innovation performance: A model of learning and capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 4912-4917.
    12. Jan Mendling & Brian T. Pentland & Jan Recker, 2020. "Building a complementary agenda for business process management and digital innovation," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 208-219, May.
    13. Yu, Jian & Shi, Xunpeng & Guo, Dongmei & Yang, Longjian, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and firm carbon emissions: Evidence using a China provincial EPU index," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    14. Wei‐Jr Juo & Chao‐Hung Wang, 2022. "Does green innovation mediate the relationship between green relational view and competitive advantage?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2456-2468, July.
    15. Jing Zhang & Charles Baden‐Fuller, 2010. "The Influence of Technological Knowledge Base and Organizational Structure on Technology Collaboration," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(4), pages 679-704, June.
    16. Wang, Mengying & Ren, Siyu & Xie, Guo, 2024. "Going “green trade”: Assessing the impact of digital technology application on green product export," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    17. Junming Zhu & Yichun Fan & Xinghua Deng & Lan Xue, 2019. "Low-carbon innovation induced by emissions trading in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    18. Yan Xiao & Yan Zhang & Jiekuan Zhang, 2023. "The Impact of Carbon Emission Trading on Industrial Green Total Factor Productivity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, April.
    19. Hongxin Yu & Yaohui Jiang & Zhaowen Zhang & Wen-Long Shang & Chunjia Han & Yuanjun Zhao, 2022. "The impact of carbon emission trading policy on firms’ green innovation in China," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-24, December.
    20. Chin, Tachia & Shi, Yi & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Agbanyo, George Kwame & Ferraris, Alberto, 2022. "Leveraging blockchain technology for green innovation in ecosystem-based business models: A dynamic capability of values appropriation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    21. Yang, Gangqiang & Nie, Yiming & Li, Honggui & Wang, Haisen, 2023. "Digital transformation and low-carbon technology innovation in manufacturing firms: The mediating role of dynamic capabilities," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    22. Yue‐Jun Zhang & Wei Shi & Lin Jiang, 2020. "Does China's carbon emissions trading policy improve the technology innovation of relevant enterprises?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 872-885, March.
    23. Zhuo, Chengfeng & Chen, Jin, 2023. "Can digital transformation overcome the enterprise innovation dilemma: Effect, mechanism and effective boundary," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    24. Liu, Yunqiang & Liu, Sha & Shao, Xiaoyu & He, Yanqiu, 2022. "Policy spillover effect and action mechanism for environmental rights trading on green innovation: Evidence from China's carbon emissions trading policy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    25. Chen, Ziyue & Huang, Lizhen, 2021. "Digital twins for information-sharing in remanufacturing supply chain: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    26. Murtaza Hussain & Shaohua Yang & Umer Sahil Maqsood & R. M. Ammar Zahid, 2024. "Tapping into the green potential: The power of artificial intelligence adoption in corporate green innovation drive," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4375-4396, July.
    27. Razzaq, Asif & Yang, Xiaodong, 2023. "Digital finance and green growth in China: Appraising inclusive digital finance using web crawler technology and big data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    28. Zhang, Xiaoliang & Zheng, Xiaojia, 2024. "Does carbon emission trading policy induce financialization of non-financial firms? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    29. Zhang, Wei & Li, Guoxiang & Guo, Fanyong, 2022. "Does carbon emissions trading promote green technology innovation in China?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    30. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2018. "The Race between Man and Machine: Implications of Technology for Growth, Factor Shares, and Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(6), pages 1488-1542, June.
    31. Shao-Zhou Qi & Chao-Bo Zhou & Kai Li & Si-Yan Tang, 2021. "Influence of a pilot carbon trading policy on enterprises’ low-carbon innovation in China," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 318-336, March.
    32. Ye, Fei & Ouyang, You & Li, Yina, 2023. "Digital investment and environmental performance: The mediating roles of production efficiency and green innovation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    33. Parisa Haim Faridian & Donald O Neubaum & Siri Terjesen & Roland E Kidwell, 2023. "The link between technical knowledge transfer in alliances and resource efficiency: ambidexterity in development of R&D and appropriation capabilities," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 2179-2203, December.
    34. Li, Zhigang & Xie, Bingyuan & Chen, Ximing & Fu, Qilong, 2024. "Corporate digital transformation, governance shifts and executive pay-performance sensitivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    35. Xiongfeng Pan & Mengna Li & Haitao Xu & Shucen Guo & Ranran Guo & Chew Tin Lee, 2021. "Simulation on the effectiveness of carbon emission trading policy: A system dynamics approach," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 72(7), pages 1447-1460, July.
    36. Gao, Qiang & Cheng, Changming & Sun, Guanglin, 2023. "Big data application, factor allocation, and green innovation in Chinese manufacturing enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    37. Zenan Zhou & Xiang Wan, 2022. "Does the Sharing Economy Technology Disrupt Incumbents? Exploring the Influences of Mobile Digital Freight Matching Platforms on Road Freight Logistics Firms," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(1), pages 117-137, January.
    38. Yuan, Baolong & Cao, Xueyun, 2022. "Do corporate social responsibility practices contribute to green innovation? The mediating role of green dynamic capability," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    39. Garcia Martinez, Marian & Zouaghi, Ferdaous & Sanchez Garcia, Mercedes, 2017. "Capturing value from alliance portfolio diversity: The mediating role of R&D human capital in high and low tech industries," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 55-67.
    40. Blichfeldt, Henrik & Faullant, Rita, 2021. "Performance effects of digital technology adoption and product & service innovation – A process-industry perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    41. Zhang, Yue-Jun & Wang, Wei, 2021. "How does China's carbon emissions trading (CET) policy affect the investment of CET-covered enterprises?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    42. Ben Arfi, Wissal & Hikkerova, Lubica & Sahut, Jean-Michel, 2018. "External knowledge sources, green innovation and performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 210-220.
    43. Roper, Stephen & Tapinos, Efstathios, 2016. "Taking risks in the face of uncertainty: An exploratory analysis of green innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 357-363.
    44. Tang, Christopher S. & Veelenturf, Lucas P., 2019. "The strategic role of logistics in the industry 4.0 era," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 1-11.
    45. Feng, Suling & Zhang, Rong & Li, Guoxiang, 2022. "Environmental decentralization, digital finance and green technology innovation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 70-83.
    46. Zhu, Bangzhu & Han, Dong & Wang, Ping & Wu, Zhanchi & Zhang, Tao & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2017. "Forecasting carbon price using empirical mode decomposition and evolutionary least squares support vector regression," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 521-530.
    47. Song, Yang & Zhang, Zhiyuan & Sahut, Jean-Michel & Rubin, Ofir, 2023. "Incentivizing green technology innovation to confront sustainable development," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhou, Xiaoxiao & Dai, Mengsi & Liu, Li, 2024. "Green credit, carbon emission trading and corporate green innovation: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    2. Liu, Jing-Yue & Zhang, Yue-Jun, 2021. "Has carbon emissions trading system promoted non-fossil energy development in China?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    3. Chen, Ming & Li, Zhongfei & Liu, Zhuang, 2024. "Substantive response or strategic response? The induced green innovation effects of carbon prices," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    4. Feng, Yuan & Chen, Zhi & Nie, Changfei, 2023. "The effect of broadband infrastructure construction on urban green innovation: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 581-598.
    5. Fang, Xubing & Liu, Maotao, 2024. "How does the digital transformation drive digital technology innovation of enterprises? Evidence from enterprise's digital patents," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    6. Jing, Zhongbo & Liu, Zhidong & Wang, Ting & Zhang, Xuan, 2024. "The impact of environmental regulation on green TFP：A quasi-natural experiment based on China's carbon emissions trading pilot policy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    7. Xiaoqi Li & Dingfei Guo & Chao Feng, 2022. "The Carbon Emissions Trading Policy of China: Does It Really Promote the Enterprises’ Green Technology Innovations?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Ge Zhang & Yuxiang Gao & Gaoyong Li, 2023. "Research on Digital Transformation and Green Technology Innovation—Evidence from China’s Listed Manufacturing Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, April.
    9. Zhao, Shikuan & Abbassi, Wajih & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Zhang, Han, 2024. "How do government R&D subsidies affect corporate green innovation choices? Perspectives from strategic and substantive innovation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 1378-1396.
    10. Chu, Baoju & Dong, Yizhe & Liu, Yaorong & Ma, Diandian & Wang, Tianju, 2024. "Does China's emission trading scheme affect corporate financial performance: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    11. Huang, Hongyun & Mbanyele, William & Wang, Fengrong & Song, Malin & Wang, Yuzhang, 2022. "Climbing the quality ladder of green innovation: Does green finance matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    12. Yangjun Ren & Botang Li, 2022. "Digital Transformation, Green Technology Innovation and Enterprise Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from the Textual Analysis of the Annual Reports of Listed Renewable Energy Enterprises in C," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    13. Zhou, Qin & Cheng, Changgao & Fang, Zhou & Zhang, Hengquan & Xu, Yining, 2024. "How does the development of the digital economy affect innovation output? Exploring mechanisms from the perspective of regional innovation systems," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-17.
    14. Zheng, Deyuan & Song, Hang & Zhao, Chunguang & Liu, Yujiao & Zhao, Wenhao, 2024. "Is it possible for semiconductor companies to reduce carbon emissions through digital transformation? Evidence from China," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    15. Wu, Qingyang & Wang, Yanying, 2022. "How does carbon emission price stimulate enterprises' total factor productivity? Insights from China's emission trading scheme pilots," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    16. Yaru Li & Qifan Zhang, 2024. "Corporate Digital Transformation and the Internationalization of R&D," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-20, October.
    17. Jiang, Kangqi & Du, Xinyi & Chen, Zhongfei, 2022. "Firms' digitalization and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    18. Pan, Junyu & Cifuentes-Faura, Javier & Zhao, Xin & Liu, Xiaoqian, 2024. "Unlocking the impact of digital technology progress and entry dynamics on firm's total factor productivity in Chinese industries," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    19. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Can environmental monitoring power transition curb corporate greenwashing behavior?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 199-218.
    20. Zhang, Xinhua & Zhang, Qianqian & Dai, Zhifeng & Zhang, Xiaotong, 2023. "The impact of carbon markets on the financial performance of power producers: Evidence based on China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:205:y:2024:i:c:s0040162524003184. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.