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Digitalization and environment governance: does internet development reduce environmental pollution?

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  • Siyu Ren
  • Yu Hao
  • Haitao Wu

Abstract

In the era of information economy, the integration of the internet and traditional industries is pushing the rapid transformation of the world economy in a more innovative, smarter, and greener direction. Based on the panel data for 30 Chinese provinces for the 2006–2017 period, the level of China’s internet development is comprehensively evaluated using the full array polygon graphic index method. The spatial Durbin model and threshold model are used to empirically analyze the impact of internet development on environmental quality. The results indicate that China’s environmental pollution has a significant spatial spillover effect. Internet development can not only significantly reduce local environmental pollution, but also environmental pollution in neighboring areas. The regression results of the mediation effect indicate that internet development mainly affects environmental pollution by improving technological innovation, industrial upgrading, human capital and financial development. Finally, policy suggestions are proposed from the aspects of strengthening collaborative environmental governance and increasing internet infrastructure investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Siyu Ren & Yu Hao & Haitao Wu, 2023. "Digitalization and environment governance: does internet development reduce environmental pollution?," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 66(7), pages 1533-1562, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:66:y:2023:i:7:p:1533-1562
    DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2022.2033959
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    13. Xu, Zhiwei & Wen, Qiang & Zhang, Teng, 2023. "Trade policy and air pollution: Evidence from the adjustment of the export tax rebate in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    14. Javed, Asif & Shabir, Maria & Rao, Fabeha & Uddin, Muhammad Salah, 2025. "Effect of green technological innovation and financial development on green energy transition in N-11 countries: Evidence from the novel Method of Moments Quantile Regression," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
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    16. Liu, Yin & Alnafrah, Ibrahim & Zhou, Yaying, 2024. "A systemic efficiency measurement of resource management and sustainable practices: A network bias-corrected DEA assessment of OECD countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    17. Li, Cong & Wang, Yiming & Sun, Weiguo & Yu, Yue & Ding, Yuzhen, 2024. "Green credit policy and corporate deleveraging: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    18. Hao, Xiaoli & Wen, Shufang & Li, Ke & Wu, Junwei & Wu, Haitao & Hao, Yu, 2023. "Environmental governance, executive incentive, and enterprise performance: Evidence from Chinese mineral enterprises," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    19. Boţa-Avram, Cristina & Apostu, Simona Andreea & Ivan, Raluca & Achim, Monica Violeta, 2024. "Exploring the impact of macro-determinant factors on energy resource depletion: Evidence from a worldwide cross-country panel data analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    20. Lin Wang & Yugang He & Renhong Wu, 2024. "Digitization Meets Energy Transition: Shaping the Future of Environmental Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-25, February.
    21. Sun, Jianhua & Hou, Shaobo & Deng, Yuxia & Li, Huaicheng, 2024. "New media environment, green technological innovation and corporate productivity: Evidence from listed companies in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    22. Luo, Shuangcheng & Xiong, Zhiqiao & Liu, Jianjiang, 2024. "How does supply chain digitization affect green innovation? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    23. Yang, Xiaodong & Liu, Xia & Ran, Qiying & Razzaq, Asif, 2023. "How does natural resource dependence influence industrial green transformation in China? Appraising underlying mechanisms for sustainable development at regional level," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    24. Shah Fahad & Aftab Khan & Muhammad Waqas & Muhammad Luqman, 2024. "Scrutinizing the nexus: Energy, economic growth, and environmental quality: An approach toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (7, 13, and 8)," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 6999-7010, December.

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