Does green technology innovation reduce anthropogenic PM2.5 emissions? Evidence from China's cities

Abstract

Quantitatively analyzing the role of green technology innovation's influence on anthropogenic PM2.5 emission is important for the government to implement policies to control pollution. Here, we analyzed regional green technology innovation's influence on PM2.5 emissions in China. The STIRPAT model and panel threshold model were performed from linear and non-linear perspectives. We collected panel data at the prefecture-level from 2006 to 2018 in China. Our results show that green technology innovation could significantly reduce PM2.5 emissions. In addition, we detected double and single threshold effects when per capita GDP and per capita education expenditure were selected as threshold variables, respectively. Our analysis indicates that regional heterogeneity and the stage of economic development and human capital levels should be involved in green-technology-driven emission control policy.