Research on the low-carbon effect of technological innovation.

Global warming is a challenge to the sustainable development of all humanity. Innovation is the main driver of the world's development and a powerful response to economic development and environmental protection. In this paper, a bidirectional fixed effect model and spatial Durbin model are used to explore the impact mechanism, heterogeneity and spatial impact of the low-carbon effect of technological innovation based on panel data of 279 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2019. The findings indicate that (1) technological innovation significantly negatively impacts carbon intensity, while the impact of high-quality technological innovation is greater. After the robustness test with the instrumental variable method and DID method, the conclusion is still valid. (2) The low-carbon effect is stronger in cities where governments pay more attention to green development and in central China. (3) Technological innovation improves energy efficiency (direct mechanism) and optimizes energy and industrial structures (indirect mechanism), and the digital economy strengthens this effect. (4) Furthermore, innovation can negatively impact the carbon intensity of adjacent cities. This paper provides new evidence and perspectives on the impact of technological innovation on carbon emissions more precisely at the city level. Additionally, this study provides an essential reference for countries to cope with global climate change and formulate differentiated policies among regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]