IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-03334-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can digital transformation curtail carbon emissions? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Zihao Lin

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

Abstract

Digital infrastructure construction (DIC) is a crucial component of digital transformation, yet its impact on the sustainable development of cities remains uncertain. To address this question, this study employs the Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to evaluate the effects of a typical DIC policy, the Broadband China Pilot (BBCP) policy. The research sample covers data from Chinese cities from 2009 to 2019. The DID estimation demonstrates that the BBCP policy effectively decreased carbon emissions (COE). Robustness tests, such as parallel trend tests, placebo tests, propensity score matching DID, and local projection DID, all confirm the negative impact of the BBCP policy on COE. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the BBCP policy has a greater mitigation effect on COE in non-resource cities. The BBCP policy has a stronger effect on reducing the COE in cities with a higher proportion of green funds or lower fiscal expenditures. Further analysis indicates that the BBCP policy significantly improves low-carbon ecological efficiency and reduces COE intensity. The results of the mechanism analysis reveal that the BBCP policy lowers COE by enhancing the industrial structure and promoting green technological progress. The study provides policy recommendations in the realm of DIC for developing countries to achieve digital transformation and low COE development concurrently. This research can assist governments in better considering how to implement DIC policies to construct ecologically sustainable cities with low COE.

Suggested Citation

  • Zihao Lin, 2024. "Can digital transformation curtail carbon emissions? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03334-5
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03334-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-03334-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-03334-5?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. Clément de Chaisemartin & Xavier D'Haultfœuille, 2020. "Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(9), pages 2964-2996, September.
    2. Zhang, Yiren & Ran, Congjing, 2023. "Effect of digital economy on air pollution in China? New evidence from the “National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Area” policy," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 986-1004.
    3. Sun, Xinbo & Zhang, Qingqiang, 2021. "Building digital incentives for digital customer orientation in platform ecosystems," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 555-566.
    4. Ren, Siyu & Hao, Yu & Xu, Lu & Wu, Haitao & Ba, Ning, 2021. "Digitalization and energy: How does internet development affect China's energy consumption?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    5. Ma, Dan & Zhu, Qing, 2022. "Innovation in emerging economies: Research on the digital economy driving high-quality green development," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 801-813.
    6. Wang, Lei & Chen, Yangyang & Ramsey, Thomas Stephen & Hewings, Geoffrey J.D., 2021. "Will researching digital technology really empower green development?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    7. Tang, Chang & Xu, Yuanyuan & Hao, Yu & Wu, Haitao & Xue, Yan, 2021. "What is the role of telecommunications infrastructure construction in green technology innovation? A firm-level analysis for China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    8. Luo, Kang & Liu, Yaobin & Chen, Pei-Fen & Zeng, Mingli, 2022. "Assessing the impact of digital economy on green development efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    9. Wang, Chong & Wang, Lei, 2024. "Does broadband infrastructure promote urban innovation? Evidence from “Broadband China” demonstration policy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 349-362.
    10. Jie Zhou & Hanlin Lan & Cheng Zhao & Jianping Zhou, 2021. "Haze Pollution Levels, Spatial Spillover Influence, and Impacts of the Digital Economy: Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    11. 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).
    12. Zhao, Qiuyun & Jiang, Mei & Zhao, Zuoxiang & Liu, Fan & Zhou, Li, 2024. "The impact of green innovation on carbon reduction efficiency in China: Evidence from machine learning validation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    13. Lyu, Wenjing & Liu, Jin, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence and emerging digital technologies in the energy sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    14. Ji, Haoran & Chen, Sirui & Yu, Hao & Li, Peng & Yan, Jinyue & Song, Jieying & Wang, Chengshan, 2022. "Robust operation for minimizing power consumption of data centers with flexible substation integration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    15. Wu, Haitao & Xue, Yan & Hao, Yu & Ren, Siyu, 2021. "How does internet development affect energy-saving and emission reduction? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    16. Yaowei Cao & Youtang Zhang & Liu Yang & Rita Yi Man Li & M. James C. Crabbe, 2021. "Green Credit Policy and Maturity Mismatch Risk in Polluting and Non-Polluting Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hua Liu & Juncheng Wang & Mengna Liu, 2024. "Can digital finance curb corporate ESG decoupling? Evidence from Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares listed companies," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.

    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. Zhang, Wei & Liu, Xuemeng & Wang, Die & Zhou, Jianping, 2022. "Digital economy and carbon emission performance: Evidence at China's city level," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    2. Xiaodan Gao & Jinbao Li, 2024. "China’s Digital Economy: A Dual Mission of Carbon-Emission Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Lin, Boqiang & Huang, Chenchen, 2023. "How will promoting the digital economy affect electricity intensity?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    4. Sun, Chuanwang & Khan, Anwar & Xue, Juntao & Huang, Xiaoyong, 2024. "Are digital economy and financial structure driving renewable energy technology innovations: A major eight countries perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    5. Yi, Jiahui & Dai, Sheng & Li, Lin & Cheng, Jinhua, 2024. "How does digital economy development affect renewable energy innovation?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    6. Tang, Chang & Xue, Yan & Wu, Haitao & Irfan, Muhammad & Hao, Yu, 2022. "How does telecommunications infrastructure affect eco-efficiency? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    7. Yang, Senmiao & Wang, Jianda & Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Qingzhe, 2023. "A path towards China's energy justice: How does digital technology innovation bring about a just revolution?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).
    8. Bai, Ling & Guo, Tianran & Xu, Wei & Liu, Yaobin & Kuang, Ming & Jiang, Lei, 2023. "Effects of digital economy on carbon emission intensity in Chinese cities: A life-cycle theory and the application of non-linear spatial panel smooth transition threshold model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    9. Wen, Huwei & Liang, Weitao & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2022. "Urban broadband infrastructure and green total-factor energy efficiency in China," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    10. Wang, Ke-Liang & Sun, Ting-Ting & Xu, Ru-Yu & Miao, Zhuang & Cheng, Yun-He, 2022. "How does internet development promote urban green innovation efficiency? Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    11. Henryk Dzwigol & Aleksy Kwilinski & Oleksii Lyulyov & Tetyana Pimonenko, 2024. "Digitalization and Energy in Attaining Sustainable Development: Impact on Energy Consumption, Energy Structure, and Energy Intensity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, March.
    12. Wei Yang & Qiuxia Chen & Qiuqi Guo & Xiaoting Huang, 2022. "Towards Sustainable Development: How Digitalization, Technological Innovation, and Green Economic Development Interact with Each Other," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
    13. Kun Liu & Xuemin Liu & Zihao Wu, 2024. "Nexus between Corporate Digital Transformation and Green Technological Innovation Performance: The Mediating Role of Optimizing Resource Allocation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, February.
    14. Wu, Haitao & Wang, Bingjie & Lu, Mingyue & Irfan, Muhammad & Miao, Xin & Luo, Shiyue & Hao, Yu, 2023. "The strategy to achieve zero‑carbon in agricultural sector: Does digitalization matter under the background of COP26 targets?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    15. Yu, Hongyang & Wang, Jinchao & Xu, Jiajun, 2023. "Assessing the role of digital economy agglomeration in energy conservation and emission reduction: Evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    16. Aihua Shen & Rui Wang, 2023. "Digital Transformation and Green Development Research: Microscopic Evidence from China’s Listed Construction Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-31, August.
    17. Yi, Ming & Liu, Yafen & Sheng, Mingyue Selena & Wen, Le, 2022. "Effects of digital economy on carbon emission reduction: New evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    18. Yihui Chen & Minjie Li, 2024. "How does the digital transformation of agriculture affect carbon emissions? Evidence from China’s provincial panel data," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    19. Zhongxin Ma & Fenglan Wu, 2022. "Smart City, Digitalization and CO 2 Emissions: Evidence from 353 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    20. Jiachao Peng & Hanfei Chen & Lei Jia & Shuke Fu & Jiali Tian, 2023. "Impact of Digital Industrialization on the Energy Industry Supply Chain: Evidence from the Natural Gas Industry in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-32, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03334-5. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    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.