Is digital technology innovation a panacea for carbon reduction?
Abstract
This paper analyses the impact of digital technological innovation on the carbon emission intensity of enterprises and conducts an empirical test based on the data of listed enterprises in China from 2009 to 2021. The study finds that (1) digital technological innovation can significantly reduce carbon emission intensity. (2) Enterprises’ digital attention and investment can significantly increase their operating income but not reduce carbon emissions. Digital technology patents can significantly reduce carbon emissions in the short term. In the long run, even new digital technologies will have a carbon rebound effect once they are deployed on a large scale. Therefore, digital technology innovation is still challenging in the long run to realize the synergy effect of “increasing production and reducing carbon.” (3) Mechanism tests show that digital technology innovation can reduce carbon intensity by improving operational efficiency, promoting cleaner production, and improving human capital. (4) If the government pays moderate attention to digital development, digital technological innovation by enterprises can significantly reduce carbon intensity. Meanwhile, this effect is more significant in regions with higher levels of intellectual property protection. Digital technology innovation can significantly reduce carbon intensity for mature, high-tech, and technology-intensive enterprises.
First published online 18 November 2024
Keyword : digital technological innovation, carbon intensity, income growth, carbon reduction, rebound effect
How to Cite
Pu, Z., Qian, Y., & Liu, R. (2024). Is digital technology innovation a panacea for carbon reduction?. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2024.22208
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Huang, Q., Xu, C., Xue, X., & Zhu, H. (2023). Can digital innovation improve firm performance: Evidence from digital patents of Chinese listed firms. International Review of Financial Analysis, 89, Article 102810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2023.102810
Hund, A., Wagner, H., Beimborn, D., & Weitzel, T. (2021). Digital innovation: Review and novel perspective. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 30(4), Article 101695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2021.101695
IEA. (2021). Global Energy Review 2021. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2021/co2-emissions
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Khin, S., & Ho, T. C. (2018). Digital technology, digital capability and organizational performance: A mediating role of digital innovation. International Journal of Innovation Science, 11(2), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-08-2018-0083
Kuo, L., & Chang, B. (2021). The affecting factors of circular economy information and its impact on corporate economic sustainability-Evidence from China. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 986–997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2021.02.014
Lee, Y., & Yang, C. (2014). The relationships among network ties, organizational agility, and organizational performance: A study of the flat glass industry in Taiwan. Journal of Management & Organization, 20(2), 206–226. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2014.32
Li, J., Ma, S., Qu, Y., & Wang, J. (2023). The impact of artificial intelligence on firms’ energy and resource efficiency: Empirical evidence from China. Resources Policy, 82, Article 103507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103507
Liu, J., Chang, H., Forrest, J. Y., & Yang, B. (2020). Influence of artificial intelligence on technological innovation: Evidence from the panel data of China’s manufacturing sectors. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 158, Article 120142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120142
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