Seeing green: How does digital infrastructure affect carbon emission intensity?

Abstract

Digital infrastructure (DI) and low-carbon development play crucial roles in promoting the high-quality development of China's economy. This study investigates the impact of DI on urban carbon emission intensity (CEI) using data from prefecture-level cities spanning the period from 2011 to 2019 and updates some disparate conclusions of related studies. The findings demonstrate that DI can significantly reduce CEI, with a 1.9% decrease for every standard deviation increase in the level of DI development. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the influence of DI is particularly pronounced in cities located north of Qinlin-Huaihe line, cities situated east of Hu-Huanyong line, as well as eastern and central cities, and resource-based cities. Moreover, mechanism analysis suggests that DI reduces urban CEI by facilitating industrial upgrading, diminishing resource dependence, and fostering green innovation. Additionally, this study identifies a negative spatial spillover effect of DI on CEI. These findings offer new insights into strategies for urban DI construction and carbon reduction, as well as theoretical approaches to achieving high-quality development in China.