How do Digital-green Policy Synergies Facilitate Urban Pollution Abatement and Carbon Emission Reduction?

Zhongqiang Liu; Xiaomin Fan

doi:10.54691/hs6s3198

Authors

Zhongqiang Liu School of Economics, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, China
Xiaomin Fan School of Economics, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/hs6s3198

Keywords:

National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone; Low-Carbon City; Policy Synergies; Pollution and Carbon Reduction.

Abstract

Based on panel data of 262 prefecture-level cities in China from 2012 to 2023, and taking the synergistic implementation of the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone (NBDCPZ) policy and the Low-Carbon City Pilot (LCCP) policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper employs a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) method to investigate the impact of Digital-green policy synergies on urban pollution and carbon reduction. The study finds that the synergistic implementation of the two policies significantly drives urban pollution and carbon reduction. Mechanism analysis shows that Digital-green policy synergies facilitate urban pollution and carbon reduction through green innovation effects and factor reallocation effects. Further analysis reveals that, compared with single-pilot policies, the dual-pilot policy has a more significant and persistently stronger effect on pollution and carbon reduction. Moreover, regarding the policy implementation sequence, implementing LCCP first followed by NBDCPZ leads to a more significant reduction in urban pollution and carbon. Based on the above findings, this paper proposes recommendations such as promoting the synergistic deployment of the two pilot policies, unblocking the transmission channels of green technology innovation and factor allocation, and optimizing the pilot policy planning.

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