The Influencing Mechanism and Spatial Effect of the Digital Economy on Agricultural Carbon Emissions

As a progressive and systematic initiative that necessitates the collective participation of society, achieving the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality has had a significant and positive impact on the transformation of the energy structure, the development of the new energy industry, the enhancement of economic efficiency and environmental quality, and the deepening of international cooperation across multiple dimensions. This study examines how the digital economy affects carbon reductions in the context of China’s pursuit of carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. To thoroughly examine how regional digital economy development influences agricultural carbon emissions and uncover its underlying mechanism, this study uses regression analysis models using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces (not including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) from 2013 to 2022. In the meantime, the study investigates the spatial effects of the digital economy on agricultural carbon emissions. The results show that the rapid development of the digital economy plays a significant role in reducing agricultural carbon emissions. In particular, every 1 unit increase in the level of digital economy development is associated with a 0.125-unit reduction in agricultural carbon emissions. Second, the expansion of the digital economy allows regional labor transfer, which indirectly influences its suppressive effect on agricultural carbon emissions through this channel. Third, the expansion of the digital economy in one area has significant spatial spillover effects, leading to agricultural carbon emissions in other provinces and cities. Fourth, these spatial spillover effects vary depending on the topography and economic production. In particular, flat regions and high-yield agricultural areas see greater carbon reduction spillover effects from the digital economy compared to steep regions and low-yield agricultural areas. Therefore, research on the impact of the digital economy on agricultural carbon emissions can help to reveal the path of the digital-technology-driven green transformation of agriculture and provide a scientific basis for optimizing agricultural carbon-emission-reduction policies and achieving sustainable agricultural development.