Research on the Impact of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions in Chinese Urban Agglomerations

Urban agglomeration represents the apex of spatial organization and serves as a critical investigative lens for materializing the “dual carbon” directive. This research confidently assesses data from seven prominent urban agglomerations spanning 2011 to 2019, utilizing metrics for the digital economy and carbon intensity. The aim is to explore the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions whilst concurrently scrutinizing the resultant heterogeneity across diverse urban agglomerations. The research concludes the following: (1) Across the board, carbon emissions from urban agglomerations can be mitigated by the growth of the digital economy. Empirical data show that every 1 percent rise in the digital economy index reduces local carbon intensity by an estimated 0.2956. (2) Except Chengdu-Chongqing agglomeration, where the growth of the digital economy has led to an increase in carbon intensity, the remaining six urban agglomerations consistently showed an inverse link with carbon emissions intensity. (3) Further investigation revealed the links between the digital economy and carbon emissions in agglomerations of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Central Plains, and Guanzhong Plain followed an “inverted U-shape” pattern. In contrast, the link of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area formed a “U-shape” pattern.