Carbon emission reduction effects and mechanisms of digital economy development from a global perspective.

LI Jin; HU Jialin; WANG Xi

In the context of China's ' dual carbon' goals guiding high-quality economic development and the advent of the era of the digital economy, it is necessary to examine and enhance the carbon reduction efficiency of China's digital economy from a global perspective. Integrating international experience and refining the paths to achieve the 'dual carbon' goals through the development of the digital economy is essential for both academic theory and policy demands. Using the entropy method to measure the level of digital economy development in 88 global economies from 2003 to 2021, this study analyzed the carbon emission reduction effects and mechanisms of the digital economy in these sample countries through bidirectional fixed effects, mediation effects, and moderation effects models. The study found that: (1) The global digital economy development level was increasing significantly, and the relative growth rate of China's digital economy development far exceeded the world average. (2) There was a significant inverted U-shaped relationship between the digital economy and per capita carbon emissions, with China's current digital economy development level still on the left side of the inflection point. (3) Different levels of digital economy development in various countries led to differences in the carbon reduction effects of the digital economy. High-income countries and non-resource-based countries were more likely to leverage digital economy development to achieve carbon reduction. (4) The digital economy reduced carbon emissions through three paths: adjusting trade openness levels, promoting financial development, and improving government efficiency. (5) Technological innovation and energy structure could significantly modulate the carbon reduction efficiency of the digital economy, both of which could shift the curve's inflection point to the right and make it smoother. This study suggests several strategies to enhance the carbon reduction efficiency of the digital economy. These include improving digital infrastructure technology, cultivating social digital literacy, fostering technological innovation while avoiding path dependence, strengthening transmission mechanisms, and enhancing the moderation effects of technological innovation and energy structure. The study enriches the theoretical implications of the classic theory of 'economic growth - green development' in the digital age.

ECONOMIC conditions in China; HIGH technology industries; TECHNOLOGICAL innovations; DIGITAL technology; DIGITAL literacy; CARBON nanofibers

China Population Resources & Environment, 2024, Vol 34, Issue 8, p3

Academic Journal

10.12062/cpre.20240501