数字技术创新对城市碳排放的影响机制分析

Analysis of the Impact Mechanism of Digital Technology Innovation on Urban Carbon Emissions

摘要:

中国目前正处于数字技术革命、经济结构调整的关键时期，利用数字技术创新实现碳减排对于区域发展和气候变化缓解至关重要。前沿研究重点关注数字产业发展和企业数字化转型的碳减排效应，普遍忽视数字技术创新在此过程中的积极作用。以2006－2020年中国内陆地区253个城市的面板数据为样本，实证分析数字技术创新对城市碳排放的非线性影响及其作用机理。结果显示，数字技术创新与城市碳排放之间存在显著的倒“U”型关系，环境治理压力、资源禀赋和数字基础设施水平的差异导致了数字技术创新对城市碳排放的影响效果呈现出异质性。进一步分析表明，数字技术创新主要通过吸引经济集聚、推动产业清洁升级和绿色技术进步来促进城市碳减排。最后，提出了优化创新环境、完善“数碳”融合政策以及促进区域间数字技术创新包容发展的政策建议。

Abstract:

China is currently at a critical juncture where the digital technology revolution and economic restructuring. Leveraging digital technological innovation for carbon reduction is crucial for regional development and climate change mitigation. Frontier literature regards digital technology as a given, focuses on the carbon emission reduction effect of digital industry development and digital transformation, and generally ignores the positive role of digital technology innovation in this regard. Using panel data from 253 Chinese cities (2006-2020), this study examines the nonlinear impact of digital technological innovation on urban carbon emissions. The results reveal a substantial inverted U-shaped correlation between digital technology innovation and urban carbon emissions, with significant heterogeneity across regions based on environmental governance pressure, resource endowment, and digital infrastructure levels. Further analysis indicates that digital technological innovation promotes urban carbon emissions reduction by attracting economic agglomeration, driving industrial clean upgrading, and advancing green technological progress. Finally, policy recommendations are proposed focusing on optimizing the innovation environment, establishing a sound carbon emission regulatory system for the digital industry, and promoting inclusive development of digital technological innovation across regions.