New urbanization and carbon emissions intensity reduction: Mechanisms and spatial spillover effects

Blessing or curse? The role of digital technology innovation in carbon emission efficiency

Digital technology advancement provides a significant impetus to achieve China's "dual-carbon" goals, yet it also gives rise to a series of challenges. Therefore, studying the relationship between digital technology innovation and carbon emission efficiency is of paramount importance. This study theoretically analyzes and empirically tests the influence of digital technology innovation (DTI) on total factor carbon emission efficiency (TFCE) using panel data from 268 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2021. The results indicate that: (1) DTI exhibits a "U-shaped" pattern on urban TFCE, with a decrease followed by an increase. (2) Conventional technological innovation (TI) also displays a "U-shaped" relationship with TFCE, with the turning point occurring earlier than that of DTI. DTI surpasses TI in bringing about later-stage improvements in carbon emission efficiency. (3) Mechanism tests reveal that digital technology innovation indirectly affects TFCE through energy effects, technological effects, structural effects, and regulatory effects. (4) The impact of DTI on urban TFCE varies significantly due to differences in geographical location and resource endowments. (5) The development of urban polycentricity advances the turning point at which DTI enhances TFCE while amplifying both the initial "pro-carbon" effect and the subsequent "carbon reduction" effect of DTI. (6) DTI has a spatial spillover effect on urban TFCE. This study provides empirical evidence and policy recommendations for policymakers to advance the digitalization, greening, and decarbonization transformation of cities.

Can new urbanization pilot policies promote green technology innovation in cities: Empirical evidence from China

The development of urbanization has brought new challenges to the ecological environment, and the promotion of green technology innovation and development is widely recognized as an essential method to achieve cities' economic benefits and environmental protection. This paper examines whether the new urbanization pilot policies (NUP) increase green technology innovation (GTI) from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. This paper examines the impact of new urbanization on GTI by analyzing data from 285 cities in China between 2010 and 2021, using the multi-period DID model with the implementation of NUP as an exogenous policy shock. The study results indicate that NUP significantly affects GTI, and the conclusion still holds after the parallel trend test, placebo test, and other robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the NUP significantly enhances GTI in low environmental pollution, non-resource-based, Medium-sized, and Central Region cities. The test of moderating effect shows that NUP has a "linkage effect" with the government's environmental attention, financial investment in innovation, and regional talent pooling. The findings of this paper provide empirical evidence and decision-making reference for promoting NUP and sustainable development of cities.

How does the development of the digital economy influence carbon productivity? The moderating effect of environmental regulation

Improving carbon productivity is of great significance to China's "30 · 60" carbon target, while the development of the digital economy is a driving force for green transformation. However, few studies discuss the relationship between the digital economy and carbon productivity. We investigate the influence of digital economic development on carbon productivity using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020. Spatial econometric and moderating effects are considered. The results show that (i) digital economy has a positive direct and negative spatial spillover effect on carbon productivity, and this conclusion is still valid after the robustness test and endogeneity test; (ii) digital infrastructure has a greater impact on carbon productivity than digital industrialization and industrial digitalization; (iii) the mechanism analysis shows that environmental regulation negatively moderates the relationship between the digital economy and carbon productivity; (iv) heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of the digital economy on carbon productivity is more obvious in the central region compared to the western region, while it is not significant in the eastern region. Overall, this paper not only provides a new analytical perspective for understanding the improvement of carbon productivity in the digital economy but also provides policy inspiration for promoting carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

Revealing the hidden carbon flows in global industrial Sectors-Based on the perspective of linkage network structure

This paper interprets the implicit carbon flows in global industrial sectors from a network perspective. Using the SNA-IO integrated model, along with cross-border input-output data from Eora26 (2000-2020) and global energy balance data, the implicit carbon emissions of global industrial sectors and their evolution are analyzed. A carbon emission network structure from an industrial chain perspective is proposed. The results indicate that the carbon emissions responsibility of an industry is not only associated with its own energy consumption. It also involves the carbon emissions transfer resulting from the exchange of products and services between upstream and downstream industries. Block model analysis reveals the carbon emission transfer relationships and their interconnections among global industrial sectors, tending towards an industry clustering pattern where "production side" converges with "demand side" coexisting in supply and demand. There are noticeable inequalities in wealth gains and environmental burdens between these blocks. This paper can provide targeted carbon reduction policy recommendations for various industrial sectors to participate in global responsibility allocation and promote the formation of a low-carbon global industrial sector network.