Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from China
With the quick advancement of new generation information technologies like the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, digitalization is emerging as a crucial tool for restructuring factor resources, reshaping the economic landscape, and altering competitiveness...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/2/444 |
| _version_ | 1797621951072567296 |
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| author | Zhen Yang Weijun Gao Chune Wang Jiawei Li |
| author_facet | Zhen Yang Weijun Gao Chune Wang Jiawei Li |
| author_sort | Zhen Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the quick advancement of new generation information technologies like the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, digitalization is emerging as a crucial tool for restructuring factor resources, reshaping the economic landscape, and altering competitiveness. However, there is no literature on the impact and mechanism of digitalization on environmental pollution management. Thus, this study measured the level of digital development in each province using principal component analysis based on panel data of 30 Chinese provinces during 2006–2019. On this basis, the impact of digitalization on haze and its mechanisms were explored using regression models and mediating effect models, respectively. The findings demonstrate that (1) haze pollution may be reduced through digital progresses, and there is an inverse U-shaped non-linear link between them, that is, as digital technology is refined, its impact on haze pollution shifts from facilitation to suppression; (2) digital development can reduce haze pollution by promoting technological innovation and improving the efficiency of environmental management; and (3) there is regional heterogeneity in the influence of digitalization on air pollution. In heavily polluted areas, the suppression effect of digital technology on air pollution is more than three times that of other areas. The goal of this study is to investigate how digitalization affects haze pollution and its mechanisms, as well as to offer some scientific guidance for China’s efforts to build a “Digital China” under the banner of digitalization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:04:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bae1f48dfba84c2a82e1540212c8429f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:04:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-bae1f48dfba84c2a82e1540212c8429f2023-11-16T19:32:44ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092023-02-0113244410.3390/buildings13020444Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from ChinaZhen Yang0Weijun Gao1Chune Wang2Jiawei Li3College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, ChinaFaculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu 808-0135, JapanCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, ChinaWith the quick advancement of new generation information technologies like the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, digitalization is emerging as a crucial tool for restructuring factor resources, reshaping the economic landscape, and altering competitiveness. However, there is no literature on the impact and mechanism of digitalization on environmental pollution management. Thus, this study measured the level of digital development in each province using principal component analysis based on panel data of 30 Chinese provinces during 2006–2019. On this basis, the impact of digitalization on haze and its mechanisms were explored using regression models and mediating effect models, respectively. The findings demonstrate that (1) haze pollution may be reduced through digital progresses, and there is an inverse U-shaped non-linear link between them, that is, as digital technology is refined, its impact on haze pollution shifts from facilitation to suppression; (2) digital development can reduce haze pollution by promoting technological innovation and improving the efficiency of environmental management; and (3) there is regional heterogeneity in the influence of digitalization on air pollution. In heavily polluted areas, the suppression effect of digital technology on air pollution is more than three times that of other areas. The goal of this study is to investigate how digitalization affects haze pollution and its mechanisms, as well as to offer some scientific guidance for China’s efforts to build a “Digital China” under the banner of digitalization.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/2/444digital city constructionair pollutiontechnological innovationenvironmental governance effectChina |
| spellingShingle | Zhen Yang Weijun Gao Chune Wang Jiawei Li Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from China Buildings digital city construction air pollution technological innovation environmental governance effect China |
| title | Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from China |
| title_full | Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from China |
| title_fullStr | Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from China |
| title_short | Does Digital City Construction Contribute to Air Pollution Control? Evidence from China |
| title_sort | does digital city construction contribute to air pollution control evidence from china |
| topic | digital city construction air pollution technological innovation environmental governance effect China |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/2/444 |
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