The effect of industrial digitalization behavior on corporate carbon emissions: evidence from manufacturing enterprises in China

Abstract

Digital and green transitions in industries continue to attract global attention. However, scholarly views diverge on how industrial digital behavior (IDB) influences the intensity of corporate carbon emissions (CCE). This study draws on microlevel firm data to examine the role of IDB in shaping emission outcomes. It measures IDB from patent citation data, thus uncovering the mediating role of diverse green patent types and the moderating role of external conditions through the technology–organization–environment framework. In doing so, this work pioneers an analysis of the heterogeneous impacts of different categories of digital technologies on CCE. Several key conclusions are drawn. First, IDB exerts a significantly negative effect on CCE. Second, green innovation serves as a key mediator. Third, the emission-reduction effects of IDB are strengthened by technological, organizational, and environmental factors, while financial coordination emerges as particularly significant. Finally, different digital technologies exhibit heterogeneous impacts on CCE. Notably, the reduction effects are more evident in high-tech industries and in firms located in the eastern and western regions than in other configurations. On this basis, this study proposes policy recommendations to enhance the effect of IDB on CCE from the perspectives of promoting green innovation; strengthening technological, organizational, and environmental factors; and coordinating differences in digital technologies, industries, and regions.

Keywords

Corporate carbon emissions / Double machine learning model / Green innovation / Industrial digitalization behavior

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