THE IMPACT OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY ON AGRICULTURAL CARBON EMISSIONS--EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of the digital economy, its influence on agricultural carbon emissions has garnered growing scholarly interest. Drawing upon panel data from 30 provinces in China over the period 2012–2022, this research investigates the linkage between digital economic development and agricultural carbon emissions, while also exploring the internal transmission pathways. The empirical findings demonstrate that the digital economy plays a significant role in curbing total agricultural carbon emissions, and this conclusion remains consistent across a range of robustness checks. Importantly, the emission reduction effects vary by region, with stronger impacts identified in key grain-producing areas. The principal transmission channels identified include farmland scale expansion, the proliferation of digital financial inclusion, and progress in agri-technological innovation. Based on these insights, this paper proposes several policy recommendations: advancing digital infrastructure in rural areas, improving digital financial systems tailored for agriculture, cultivating a workforce skilled in digital agriculture, and encouraging the adoption of innovative digital agriculture models.

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