Internet Development, Collaborative Innovation, and Carbon Emissions

Abstract

In order to promote the deep integration of “Internet” and “green ecology,” it is of great significance to realize the high-quality development of China’s economy. Methods. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces from 2011 to 2018, this paper explores the mechanism of Internet development affecting carbon emission intensity by using the dynamic spatial Durbin model combined with the mediating effect model. The findings are as follows: first, spatially, within the whole region, Internet development not only significantly suppresses the carbon emission intensity of the region but also has a negative spatial spillover effect on the carbon emission of the surrounding areas. Second, in terms of regional heterogeneity, the impact of Internet development on carbon emission reduction is greater in the eastern region compared to the central and western regions and small cities. Third, in the aspect of influence mechanism, collaborative innovation is an important path for Internet development to promote carbon emission reduction, and collaborative innovation partially plays a mediating role in this mechanism. Through the development of regional new energy, high-tech, and other low-carbon technologies, enhance the potential of regional emission reduction, form a “strong by strong” development model, achieve the overall goal of regional carbon emission reduction, and improve the high-quality development of China’s economy.