Roadmap to achieving sustainable development: Does digital economy matter in industrial green transformation?

Abstract

The rapid advancements in the digital economy have created numerous opportunities and solutions for industrial green transformation. However, the complex relationship between these two has received relatively less attention. Therefore, this study analyses how the digital economy impacts industrial green transformation across 30 Chinese provinces. The empirical findings highlight the digital economy's significant role in driving industrial green transformation. Within this dynamic framework, two crucial operational mechanisms have been identified: heightened public awareness of environmental issues and the vigorous innovation of green technologies. It becomes evident that the digital economy can energize and sustain the momentum of industrial green transformation. Notably, this influence is most pronounced in eastern‐central China. However, its impact in western China appears relatively weaker, especially at higher quantiles. We observe a strong correlation between the evolution of the digital economy and industrial green transformation in terms of space and time. Higher spatiotemporal regression coefficients are primarily found in areas south of the Hu line, while lower values are more common in the northern regions. These findings provide insights into how the digital economy can be strategically applied to drive industrial green transformation.

Examination of Green Productivity in China’s Mining Industry: An In-Depth Exploration of the Role and Impact of Digital Economy

“…We found that while the digital economy initially has a positive impact on mining, it may shift to an inverted U-shaped curve over time, in contrast to the manufacturing sector where significant effects become apparent only after reaching a certain threshold of investment. Additionally, consistent with the literature [56], we identify industrial structure upgrading as crucial for efficiency and low-carbon development. We also observed spatial spillover effects of the digital economy, aligning with the findings of the literature [57,58], which highlight its extensive impact across different industries and regions.…”

The Impact of Green Mergers and Acquisitions on Corporate Environmental Performance: Evidence from China’s Heavy-Polluting Industries

“…On the other hand, there is huge potential and scope for companies to reap economic benefits through energy saving and emission reduction [49,50]. In comparison, after acquiring resources through green M&As to build a good foundation, heavy polluters are more willing to choose a strategy that meets environmental regulation standards [36], change their previous crude development model and take the initiative to implement a green technology leadership strategy to deepen their innovation research to enhance their core competitiveness, corporate value and industry status [51,52]. Therefore, we believe that the implementation of green M&A by heavily polluting companies can drive their environmental performance through green technology innovation.…”

The effect of producer service agglomeration externalities on urban green innovation efficiency in China

“…Although green innovation is regarded as a source of living water for optimizing industrial structure, the impact of agglomeration externalities on it has rarely been studied [ 19 ]. The literature related to productive services has focused on manufacturing convergence, GDP and energy efficiency [ [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] ]. Some learners have also explored the impact of PSAE on regional innovation.…”