Can smart transportation reduce carbon emission intensity? — An empirical study from macro and micro perspectives in China

Abstract

Traditional transportation development has yielded significant economic and social benefits, but it has also led to increased pollution emissions and substantial environmental impacts. Transport has become a major source of carbon emissions in China. Against the backdrop of national goals for “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality”, the development of smart transportation offers a fresh perspective on reducing carbon emission intensity. In this study, both provincial and enterprise-level data from China are used to examine the critical role of smart transportation in reducing carbon emission intensity from both macro and micro perspectives, and the dynamic threshold model is employed to validate the inverted U-shaped relationship between the energy structure and digital infrastructure in the carbon reduction process facilitated by smart transportation. In addition, in this mechanism, green innovation and the digital economy play pivotal roles. Multiple robustness tests confirmed the reliability of the empirical analysis. This study highlights the important role of smart transport in carbon intensity and provides valuable insights for developing countries aimed at transitioning toward environmentally friendly, low-carbon, intelligent and advanced transport.