Work

Artificial intelligence promotes urban green innovation in China with regional spillovers and asymmetric climate-risk thresholds

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We systematically examine the impact of artificial intelligence on urban green innovation in the context of climate risk. The results demonstrate that artificial intelligence substantially promotes green innovation, an effect primarily transmitted through expanded openness to trade and enhanced scientific-research investment, with the digital economy playing a positive moderating role. Spatial analysis reveals that artificial intelligence advances in one city generate significant positive spillovers that enhance the green innovation performance of neighboring cities. This spatial pattern exhibits pronounced regional heterogeneity: the western region displays significantly positive indirect effects, whereas the eastern and central regions are dominated by direct effects. Threshold effect analysis uncovers differentiated responses to physical climate risks: artificial intelligence’s benefits are weakened once extreme high-temperature days exceed the threshold but strengthened once extreme low-temperature days exceed their threshold, while extreme precipitation exerts no discernible threshold influence. Finally, higher transition risk is found to amplify the beneficial impact of artificial intelligence on green innovation.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-78030-2

Authors: Yangyulong Wu, Yue Guo, Ziang Niu, Kewei Meng

Institutions: Renmin University of China, Liaoning University, University of International Business and Economics, Tianjin University

Language: English

Topic: Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690