Work

Is digital transformation a blessing or a curse for urban low-carbon development efficiency

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The rapid urbanization and industrialization processes have led to changes in land use efficiency, but this has also raised various ecological and environmental issues, especially in the context of highly developed digital economy. How to achieve low-carbon development of urban land has become a global concern. The study investigates how the Internet of Things (IoT) enhances the efficiency of low-carbon cities by examining multiple outcomes, including greenhouse gas emissions, emission intensity, and metropolitan sustainability. Utilizing survey data from 271 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2024, the research employs a comprehensive index of the digital economy to develop a multivariate production index that assesses the success of low-carbon cities. Through fixed-effects modeling and analysis of intermediate impacts, the study explores the influence of the internet-based economy on low-carbon city efficiency. The findings reveal that the digital economy has two primary effects: on a national level, it reduces greenhouse gases and their intensity while simultaneously enhancing the operational efficiency of low-carbon cities. However, the real game-changer is the role of green technology innovations. These innovations, fostered by the digital economy, contribute significantly to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and their magnitude, thereby improving the productivity of low-carbon communities. The impact of the internet-based economy on low-carbon city efficiency varies by location, being more pronounced in central and eastern cities. In terms of city size, the digital economy has a more significant effect on smaller and medium-sized towns, reducing their carbon dioxide emissions and enhancing their efficiency as low-carbon cities. However, the efficiency of low-carbon towns is less pronounced in resource-dependent cities, suggesting that resource availability influences the effectiveness of the digital economy in promoting sustainable city development.

Source: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1729244

Authors: Wei Huang, Jingkun Zhang, Xiaojuan Li

Institution: North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power

Language: English

Topic: Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,353