In the context of climate change and high-quality economic growth, the penetration of green innovation is crucial for attaining sustainable economic development. However, the economic growth and carbon emissions nexus has not been fully investigated from the green innovation perspective. Using green innovation as the transition variable, this research employs the panel smooth transition regression model to examine the influence of economic growth on carbon emissions in 30 Chinese provinces over the period 2000–2019. The empirical results indicate that economic growth and carbon emissions have a substantially nonlinear nexus. The promoting influence of economic growth on carbon emissions is offset and even transformed into an inhibiting effect as green innovation degree rises; that is, green innovation alters the economic growth and carbon emissions nexus and plays a considerable part in carbon reduction for China. Additionally, the temporal variations analysis indicates that the positive nexus economic growth effect exerted on carbon emissions decreases gradually as time goes on. In terms of spatial variations, economic growth in the eastern area with higher levels of green innovation exerts the least positive impacts on carbon emissions. The research findings indicate that it is crucial for the Chinese government to lay down effective environmental protection policies to stimulate the enthusiasm of green innovation for social entities.
With the advancement of industrialization, the problem of global warming is becoming increasingly serious. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, China has proposed the goals of "Peak carbon dioxide emissions" and "Carbon neutrality". Meanwhile, under the background of computer technology, digital economy gradually takes shape, and it affects all aspects of society. In particular, it provides impetus for economic growth. While promoting economic innovation and development, whether the digital economy can reduce carbon emissions in China is worthy of in-depth research. However, it is rarely studied in the existing literature. In this paper, 261 samples were selected from the municipal level, covering the period from 2011 to 2017. Considering the possible influence of space, we construct a spatial Durbin model to explore the relationship between the digital economy and carbon emissions. We found that the digital economy can mitigate carbon emissions both locally and in neighboring areas. In addition, the digital economy has a bearing on carbon emissions which varies in different regions. Research conclusions provide useful policy implications for better promoting the development of the digital economy and helping to achieve the "dual carbon" target.
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