Can industrial robots reduce carbon emissions? Based on the perspective of energy rebound effect and labor factor flow in China

Abstract

China is a major robot-use and carbon-emitting country, and it is imperative to explore industrial robots' impact on carbon emissions to achieve the nation's planned low-carbon transition. Previous studies have neglected to consider the energy rebound stimulating effect of adopting industrial robots. To address this gap, we explored the relationships between industrial robots, carbon emissions, and the energy rebound effect by applying a fixed-effects model that considers cross-sectional dependence, using data from 2008 to 2019. We also analyze the moderating effect of labor factor mobility on industrial robots and regional differences in conjunction with the labor substitution effect of industrial robots. Three relevant conclusions are obtained. First, although using industrial robots reduces carbon emissions, it also leads to an energy rebound effect, partially offsetting industrial robots' carbon reduction performance. Second, the resulting emissions reduction and energy rebound effects in the western region are greater than those in eastern and central regions. This suggests that the use of industrial robots in less industrialized regions could yield better emissions reduction effects but requires awareness and mitigation of potential increased energy consumption. Third, labor factor flow negatively moderates the impact of industrial robots on carbon emissions, indicating that labor flow between cities reinforces the emissions reduction effect of industrial robots. The negative moderating effect of labor factor flow is greatest in the western region compared to eastern and central regions. Thus, we need adequate awareness of the energy rebound effect in the use of industrial robots. Meanwhile, removing barriers to labor flow between cities could further stimulate the carbon reduction effect.