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Digital Economy, Energy Structure Transformation, and Regional Carbon Dioxide Emissions

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  • Jingwei Sun

    (School of Economics, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
    Zhejiang Informatization Development Institute, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Jingzhu Chen

    (School of Economics, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China)

Abstract

For China to reach its “dual carbon” aim, the digital economy presents both opportunities and obstacles. This paper examines the potential impact of digital economy development on regional carbon dioxide emissions, concluding that while the direct impact on regional carbon dioxide emissions through industrial structure upgrading and technological progress is unclear, the indirect impact through promoting energy structure transformation is both positive and clear. This research experimentally validates the results of a theoretical analysis using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2019 and the STIRPAT model and discovers an inverted U-shaped association between digital economy development and regional carbon dioxide emissions. According to the transmission path test, the digital economy primarily achieves its carbon dioxide emission reduction effect by promoting energy structure transformation, while the carbon dioxide emission reduction effect from upgrading industrial institutions and technological progress is insignificant. By region, the expansion of the digital economy in eastern China has a large carbon dioxide emission reduction effect but not in central and western China. The policy implication of this paper is that curbing new carbon dioxide emissions caused by digital infrastructure construction using the digital economy to accelerate energy structure transformation and accelerating digital economy development in central and western China can be effective policy options for the Chinese government to achieve the goal of carbon dioxide emission reduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingwei Sun & Jingzhu Chen, 2023. "Digital Economy, Energy Structure Transformation, and Regional Carbon Dioxide Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8557-:d:1155134
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhou, Xiaoyong & Zhou, Dequn & Wang, Qunwei & Su, Bin, 2019. "How information and communication technology drives carbon emissions: A sector-level analysis for China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 380-392.
    2. Barrett, Mark & Lowe, Robert & Oreszczyn, Tadj & Steadman, Philip, 2008. "How to support growth with less energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 4592-4599, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dongqing Han & Dayong Zhang & Peng Yue & Zhengxu Cao, 2024. "Toward Sustainable Development: Can Digital Transformation of Industrial Enterprise Drive Carbon Reduction?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Jiazhen Duan & Zhuowen Zhang & Haoran Zhao & Chunhua Jin & Sen Guo, 2025. "The Influence Mechanism of the Digital Economy on Carbon Intensity Across Chinese Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-25, July.
    3. Zhongwei Zhu & Tingyu Qian & Lei Liu, 2023. "Evolutionary Simulation of Carbon-Neutral Behavior of Urban Citizens in a “Follow–Drive” Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-28, July.
    4. Ruiheng Xu & Kaiwen Ji & Zichen Yuan & Chenye Wang & Yihan Xia, 2024. "Exploring the Evolution Trend of China’s Digital Carbon Footprint: A Simulation Based on System Dynamics Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-27, May.
    5. Wang, Quan-Jing & Zhu, Yi-Jing & Zhang, Yun & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2025. "Impact of digital economy on energy efficiency: Role of emerging technologies such as AI," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    6. Jianing Pang & Yimeng Zhang & Fangyi Jiao, 2023. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on Transformation and Upgrading of Industrial Structure: A Perspective Based on the “Poverty Trap”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-20, October.
    7. Zhen Yu & Weidong Li & Hongyan Duan, 2023. "New Energy Technology Innovation and Industry Carbon Emission Reduction Based on the Perspective of Unbalanced Regional Economic Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.

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