Greening through digitalisation? Evidence from cities in China

This paper examines the impact of the digital economy on urban carbon emissions in terms of digital industrialisation, industrial digitalisation and digital governance. The results indicate that digital development in Chinese cities reduces urban carbon emissions, and this result is robust. Further investigation shows that the digitalisation of industries and digital governance underpin the carbon reduction effects. Finally, there is significant regional heterogeneity in the impact of China’s digital development on urban carbon emissions, with greater potential for digital emissions reduction in less developed regions, and carbon trading policy helping to exploit the digital emissions reduction potential in developed regions.