IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v68y2022ics0160791x22000513.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The nexus between digital economy and carbon dioxide emissions in China: The moderating role of investments in research and development

Author

Listed:
  • Ma, Qiang
  • Tariq, Muhammad
  • Mahmood, Haider
  • Khan, Zeeshan

Abstract

Since the signing of the Paris Agreement, it is necessary for the signatories to report their nationally determined contributions regarding the adoption of domestic strategies that are to be adopted to achieve emission-reduction commitments. Accordingly, the Chinese government has also declared the target of turning carbon-neutral by 2060. In this regard, the digitalization of the Chinese economy can be hypothesized to attain the carbon-neutrality agenda since an emerging digital economy has immense potential in ensuring environmentally-sustainable economic growth. Besides, it is also argued that investments in research and development can also facilitate this cause by developing the latest technologies that can limit emissions of carbon dioxide in China. Against this backdrop, this study aimed to check whether digitalization and research and development investments can help China achieve low carbon growth. In this regard, this study utilized annual data of 30 Chinese provinces between 2006 and 2017. The findings revealed long-run cointegrating relationships between carbon dioxide emissions, digitalization, research and development investments, and other major macroeconomic variables. Besides, digitalization is found to curb the provincial emission figures. Moreover, research and development investments are evidenced to not only curb the emission levels but also perform the role of a moderator between digitalization and carbon dioxide emissions. Similar direct and moderating effects of technological innovation are also discovered. Furthermore, economic growth, financial development, and energy use boost higher carbon dioxide emissions in China. In light of these findings, this study recommends the Chinese government integrate the digitalization and environmental development policies by enhancing investments in research and development. In addition, China should also look forward to green its economic growth, financial development, and energy transition policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Qiang & Tariq, Muhammad & Mahmood, Haider & Khan, Zeeshan, 2022. "The nexus between digital economy and carbon dioxide emissions in China: The moderating role of investments in research and development," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:68:y:2022:i:c:s0160791x22000513
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101910
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X22000513
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101910?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. Ma, Qiang & Murshed, Muntasir & Khan, Zeeshan, 2021. "The nexuses between energy investments, technological innovations, emission taxes, and carbon emissions in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    2. Carmen Nadia CIOCOIU, 2011. "Integrating Digital Economy And Green Economy: Opportunities For Sustainable Development," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 6(1), pages 33-43, February.
    3. Sencer Atasoy, Burak, 2017. "Testing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis across the U.S.: Evidence from panel mean group estimators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 731-747.
    4. Dumitrescu, Elena-Ivona & Hurlin, Christophe, 2012. "Testing for Granger non-causality in heterogeneous panels," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 1450-1460.
    5. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2021. "General diagnostic tests for cross-sectional dependence in panels," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 13-50, January.
    6. Hashem Pesaran, M. & Yamagata, Takashi, 2008. "Testing slope homogeneity in large panels," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 142(1), pages 50-93, January.
    7. Wang, Zhaohua & Yin, Fangchao & Zhang, Yixiang & Zhang, Xian, 2012. "An empirical research on the influencing factors of regional CO2 emissions: Evidence from Beijing city, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 277-284.
    8. Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo & Dervis Kirikkaleli, 2021. "Impact of renewable energy consumption, globalization, and technological innovation on environmental degradation in Japan: application of wavelet tools," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(11), pages 16057-16082, November.
    9. Francis Teal & Markus Eberhardt, 2010. "Productivity Analysis in Global Manufacturing Production," Economics Series Working Papers 515, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    10. Laura-Diana Radu, 2016. "Determinants of Green ICT Adoption in Organizations: A Theoretical Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-16, July.
    11. Salim, Ruhul A. & Shafiei, Sahar, 2014. "Urbanization and renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in OECD countries: An empirical analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 581-591.
    12. Xiaoyan Li & Jia Liu & Peijie Ni, 2021. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on CO 2 Emissions: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Eberhardt, Markus & Teal, Francis, 2008. "Modeling technology and technological change in manufacturing: how do countries differ?," MPRA Paper 10690, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Wang, Shaojian & Zeng, Jingyuan & Liu, Xiaoping, 2019. "Examining the multiple impacts of technological progress on CO2 emissions in China: A panel quantile regression approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 140-150.
    15. Li, Ying & Dai, Jing & Cui, Li, 2020. "The impact of digital technologies on economic and environmental performance in the context of industry 4.0: A moderated mediation model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    16. Alam, Md. Samsul & Atif, Muhammad & Chien-Chi, Chu & Soytaş, Uğur, 2019. "Does corporate R&D investment affect firm environmental performance? Evidence from G-6 countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 401-411.
    17. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2007. "A simple panel unit root test in the presence of cross-section dependence," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(2), pages 265-312.
    18. Shafiei, Sahar & Salim, Ruhul A., 2014. "Non-renewable and renewable energy consumption and CO2 emissions in OECD countries: A comparative analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 547-556.
    19. Md Samsul Alam & Nicholas Apergis & Sudharshan Reddy Paramati & Jianchun Fang, 2021. "The impacts of R&D investment and stock markets on clean‐energy consumption and CO2 emissions in OECD economies," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 4979-4992, October.
    20. Zeeshan Khan & Muhsin Ali & Dervis Kirikkaleli & Salman Wahab & Zhilun Jiao, 2020. "The impact of technological innovation and public‐private partnership investment on sustainable environment in China: Consumption‐based carbon emissions analysis," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1317-1330, September.
    21. Chien, Fengsheng & Anwar, Ahsan & Hsu, Ching-Chi & Sharif, Arshian & Razzaq, Asif & Sinha, Avik, 2021. "The role of information and communication technology in encountering environmental degradation: Proposing an SDG framework for the BRICS countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    22. Zhou, Xiaoyong & Zhou, Dequn & Wang, Qunwei, 2018. "How does information and communication technology affect China's energy intensity? A three-tier structural decomposition analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 748-759.
    23. Yang, Lisha & Li, Zhi, 2017. "Technology advance and the carbon dioxide emission in China – Empirical research based on the rebound effect," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 150-161.
    24. He, Yong & Fu, Feifei & Liao, Nuo, 2021. "Exploring the path of carbon emissions reduction in China’s industrial sector through energy efficiency enhancement induced by R&D investment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    25. Lin, Jiang & Fridley, David & Lu, Hongyou & Price, Lynn & Zhou, Nan, 2018. "Has coal use peaked in China: Near-term trends in China's coal consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 208-214.
    26. Zhao, Ge & Zhou, P. & Wen, Wen, 2021. "Feed-in tariffs, knowledge stocks and renewable energy technology innovation: The role of local government intervention," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    27. Aydin, Erdal & Eichholtz, Piet & Yönder, Erkan, 2018. "The economics of residential solar water heaters in emerging economies: The case of Turkey," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 285-299.
    28. Usman, Ahmed & Ozturk, Ilhan & Ullah, Sana & Hassan, Ali, 2021. "Does ICT have symmetric or asymmetric effects on CO2 emissions? Evidence from selected Asian economies," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    29. Zhang, Jing & Liang, Xiong-jian, 2012. "Promoting green ICT in China: A framework based on innovation system approaches," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 997-1013.
    30. Wang, Qiang & Han, Xinyu, 2021. "Is decoupling embodied carbon emissions from economic output in Sino-US trade possible?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    31. Weihua Su & Dongcai Zhang & Chonghui Zhang & Dalia Streimikiene, 2020. "Sustainability assessment of energy sector development in China and European Union," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1063-1076, September.
    32. Eberhardt, Markus & Bond, Stephen, 2009. "Cross-section dependence in nonstationary panel models: a novel estimator," MPRA Paper 17692, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    33. Lange, Steffen & Pohl, Johanna & Santarius, Tilman, 2020. "Digitalization and energy consumption. Does ICT reduce energy demand?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(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. Dong, Kangyin & Hochman, Gal & Zhang, Yaqing & Sun, Renjin & Li, Hui & Liao, Hua, 2018. "CO2 emissions, economic and population growth, and renewable energy: Empirical evidence across regions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 180-192.
    2. Yilmaz Bayar & Marius Dan Gavriletea & Stefan Sauer & Dragos Paun, 2021. "Impact of Municipal Waste Recycling and Renewable Energy Consumption on CO 2 Emissions across the European Union (EU) Member Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Li, Xuelin & Yang, Lin, 2023. "Natural resources, remittances and carbon emissions: A Dutch Disease perspective with remittances for South Asia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    4. Churchill, Sefa Awaworyi & Inekwe, John & Ivanovski, Kris & Smyth, Russell, 2018. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve in the OECD: 1870–2014," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 389-399.
    5. Hussain, Jamal & Khan, Anwar & Zhou, Kui, 2020. "The impact of natural resource depletion on energy use and CO2 emission in Belt & Road Initiative countries: A cross-country analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    6. Usman, Muhammad & Makhdum, Muhammad Sohail Amjad, 2021. "What abates ecological footprint in BRICS-T region? Exploring the influence of renewable energy, non-renewable energy, agriculture, forest area and financial development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 12-28.
    7. Usman, Muhammad & Khalid, Khaizran & Mehdi, Muhammad Abuzar, 2021. "What determines environmental deficit in Asia? Embossing the role of renewable and non-renewable energy utilization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 1165-1176.
    8. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Nwani, Chinazaekpere & Bekun, Festus Victor & Gyamfi, Bright Akwasi & Agozie, Divine Q., 2022. "Discerning the role of renewable energy and energy efficiency in finding the path to cleaner consumption and production patterns: New insights from developing economies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    9. Bright Akwasi Gyamfi & Asiedu B. Ampomah & Festus V. Bekun & Simplice A. Asongu, 2022. "Can information and communication technology and institutional quality help mitigate climate change in E7 economies? An environmental Kuznets curve extension," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    10. Alvarado, Rafael & Tillaguango, Brayan & Murshed, Muntasir & Ochoa-Moreno, Santiago & Rehman, Abdul & Işık, Cem & Alvarado-Espejo, Johana, 2022. "Impact of the informal economy on the ecological footprint: The role of urban concentration and globalization," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 750-767.
    11. Yang, Senmiao & Wang, Jianda & Dong, Kangyin & Dong, Xiucheng & Wang, Kun & Fu, Xiaowen, 2024. "Is artificial intelligence technology innovation a recipe for low-carbon energy transition? A global perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    12. Rafiq, Shuddhasattwa & Salim, Ruhul & Apergis, Nicholas, 2016. "Agriculture, trade openness and emissions: an empirical analysis and policy options," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 60(2), April.
    13. Rafiq, Shuddhasattwa & Salim, Ruhul & Nielsen, Ingrid, 2016. "Urbanization, openness, emissions, and energy intensity: A study of increasingly urbanized emerging economies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 20-28.
    14. BAYAR Yilmaz & AKYUZ Fatma & EREM Isil, 2017. "Openness And Financial Development In Central And Eastern European Countries," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 12(3), pages 5-16, December.
    15. Syed Asif Ali Naqvi & Bilal Hussain & Ashfaq Ahmad Shah & Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq & Muhammad Usman, 2022. "Influence of Economic Growth, Energy Production, and Subcomponents on the Environment: A Regional Level Analytical Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.
    16. Yilmaz Bayar & Marius Dan Gavriletea & Dan Constantin Danuletiu & Adina Elena Danuletiu & Emre Sakar, 2022. "Pension Funds, Insurance Companies and Stock Market Development: Evidence from Emerging Markets," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(13), pages 1-13, July.
    17. Obobisa, Emma Serwaa, 2022. "Achieving 1.5 °C and net-zero emissions target: The role of renewable energy and financial development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 967-985.
    18. Gyamfi, Bright Akwasi & Agozie, Divine Q. & Bekun, Festus Victor, 2022. "Can technological innovation, foreign direct investment and natural resources ease some burden for the BRICS economies within current industrial era?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    19. Bayar, Yilmaz, 2016. "Economic Freedom and Unemployment in Emerging Market Economies," Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, Pro Global Science Association, vol. 11(1), pages 5-12, June.
    20. Cheng, Yuanyuan & Yao, Xin, 2021. "Carbon intensity reduction assessment of renewable energy technology innovation in China: A panel data model with cross-section dependence and slope heterogeneity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

    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:teinso:v:68:y:2022:i:c:s0160791x22000513. 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: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    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.