The impact of digital economy on energy saving and emission reduction in cities under the “Double Carbon” Target

  • GAO Wei-long ,
  • PENG Ying ,
  • HU Xu-nan
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Received date: 2023-01-18

  Revised date: 2023-02-20

  Online published: 2023-09-19

Abstract

Is the digital economy a “bonus” or a “ minus” for cities to save energy and reduce emissions? This paper empirically tests the impact mechanism of the digital economy on urban energy saving and emission reduction from the perspective of technological progress and structural transformation using a panel data of 243 cities in China from 2011-2019. It is found that the digital economy is a “double-edged sword” for energy saving and emission reduction significantly increasing the scale of urban power consumption and CO2 emissions but reduces the intensity of power consumption and CO2 emissions. The mechanism test results show that the energy rebound effect of green technology innovation exceeds the energy-saving effect of green technology efficiency improvement. Therefore, the digital economy increases urban power consumption and CO2 emissions by promoting green technology progress. The digital economy increases urban power consumption by promoting the transformation of industrial structure, but significantly reduces the intensity of CO2 emissions. In detail, the structural transformation of the manufacturing industry has the effect of emission reduction, while energy saving and emission reduction effects of both agriculture and service industry are not significant due to the low-end industrial structure. In addition, a good environment of government green digital governance can strengthen the energy saving and emission reduction effects of the digital economy. The research conclusions can provide enlightenment for the digital transformation of urban economy and the formulation of energy saving and emission reduction strategies under the “dual carbon” goal.

Cite this article

GAO Wei-long , PENG Ying , HU Xu-nan . The impact of digital economy on energy saving and emission reduction in cities under the “Double Carbon” Target[J]. Urban Problems, 2023 , 332(3) : 25 -37 . DOI: 10.13239/j.bjsshkxy.cswt.230304

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