Carbon Reduction Effect of Digital New Quality Productivity: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Evidence

Abstract

The continuous innovation and widespread application of digital technology have expedited the transformation of productivity and presented an opportunity to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Digital new quality productivity, characterized by the integration of advanced technologies, innovative business models, a new economic framework, and ongoing innovation, stands as a superior production factor. It plays a crucial role in fostering high-quality economic growth and leading efforts to meet the “dual carbon” objectives. Using panel data from Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2022, this study employs various econometric models to empirically examine the impact and underlying mechanisms of digital new quality productivity on carbon emission reduction. The findings reveal that: (1) There exists a significant U-shaped nonlinear relationship between digital new quality productivity and carbon emission performance, with an inflection point at 0.2750. (2) Dual objective constraints significantly moderate the relationship between digital new productivity and carbon emission performance. Setting moderate economic growth targets positively influences the effect of digital new quality productivity on carbon emission performance. (3) The impact of digital new quality productivity on carbon emission performance varies considerably based on factors such as urban location, city size, resource endowment, and specific city characteristics. It is essential to focus on nurturing digital new quality productivity, exploring the integration of balanced economic growth objectives with environmental goals, and effectively leveraging the environmental benefits derived from the advancement of digital new quality productivity tailored to local contexts.