Jul 2026· Australian Economic Papers· 0 citations· 47 references
Abstract
As the core platform for global economic governance, the green transformation of the G‐20 countries is of vital importance to global sustainable development. This study, based on panel data from 1990 to 2023 and using a second‐generation econometric method, examines the impact of five factors—digitalization, fintech, trade openness, industrial growth, and per capita income—on the sustainability of natural resources. The findings are as follows: (1) Digitalization intensifies resource dependence, resulting in a “digital rebound effect”, with the transmission channel being the stimulation of consumer demand; (2) Fintech has the potential for “resource conservation” but the effect varies by country, with the transmission channel being green investment promotion; (3) Trade openness and industrial growth inhibit resource rents, verifying the environmental Kuznets curve from the resource perspective; (4) The interaction between digitalization and fintech, and between digitalization and trade openness generates a “doubled rebound effect”; (5) The impact of each factor varies systematically between developed and developing countries, as well as between emerging markets and non‐emerging markets. It is recommended that the G‐20 implement a comprehensive strategy integrating green digitalization, sustainable fintech, and clean industrial upgrading.
Digitalisation has greatly changed development approaches worldwide, including increasing efficiency and productivity in sectors. But the potential impact on the environment is unclear. This study examines the effects of digitalisation on the environment in G7 economies between 2000 and 2023. A composite digitalization index is built by applying principal component analysis (PCA) and the carbon dioxide (CO
2
) emissions is used as a proxy for environmental degradation. The study uses PMG-ARDL model to provide strong empirical analysis and FMOLS model as a robustness test due to cross-sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity and mixed integration order. The results show that digitalisation helps to lower CO
2
emissions in G7 countries, supporting environmental sustainability through technological progress. The EKC is verified, as initial economic development leads to rising emissions and beyond a threshold, lower emissions. In addition, energy use is a major contributor to environmental damage, and FDI results a decline of emissions. The findings underline the importance of policymakers to incorporate environmental concerns in digital transformation policies. To achieve maximum environmental benefits from digitalization, it is important to promote energy-efficient digital infrastructure and provide incentives for green innovation. The study highlights the need to make sure digital development is aligned with sustainability goals.
Saqib Muneer, Cristiana Cerqueira Leal, Benilde Oliveira et al.· Quality & Quantity· 0 citations
This study asks whether, and through which firm-level channels, the green data center (GDC) pilot improves corporate sustainability, and it aims to quantify the policy effect and identify its transmission pathways. Under the dual shift in digital transformation and low-carbon transition, the energy demand and emissions generated by data centers have become important constraints on the sustainability performance of firms. This study regards the 2015 “National Green Data Center Pilot Work Plan” as a quasi-experimental policy shock. In terms of methods, using panel observations of Chinese A-share companies listed in Shanghai or Shenzhen during 2010–2024, a difference-in-differences (DID) strategy is employed to estimate the effect of GDC policy and to identify its transmission pathways for corporate sustainability. In terms of results, the empirical estimates indicate that the GDC pilot improves corporate sustainability, and the effect is robust to fixed-effects specifications, an instrumental-variable strategy, propensity-score matching, and a placebo test. Mechanism tests show that the pilot works through three channels: greater green innovation output and technical value, reduced financing frictions, and enhanced green governance capacity. Heterogeneity tests further show that the effect is stronger among firms with a higher level of digital transformation, a larger share of skilled technical personnel, stronger internal control, and greater executive green awareness, and that it is clearer where regional environmental regulation is stricter and market competition is more intense. In terms of conclusions, by integrating institutional pressure theory with the resource-based view, this study explains how the GDC pilot is translated into a firm-level sustainability advantage, and it offers evidence for refining GDC policy design and advancing the coordinated digital and green transformation of enterprises. The novelty of the study lies in providing firm-level causal evidence within a unified “pressure-to-capability” framework, in opening the three transmission channels, and in specifying the technological, organizational, and environmental conditions under which the effect is stronger.
The digital economy (DE) is a nascent economic model with the potential to mitigate urban industrial pollution (UIP) while encouraging high-quality economic expansion. This paper utilized panel data from 258 Chinese cities and employed the fixed-effects model, the mechanism test model, panel threshold model, and the spatial Durbin model to undertake an empirical investigation into the DE on UIP emissions. The research outcomes suggest that developing the DE has a positive influence on UIP reduction and that the effect of the DE on UIP reduction varies significantly across regions with different levels of industrial development, digital infrastructure, and environmental regulatory intensity. Further examination shows that the DE can reduce UIP by promoting public environmental concern and green technology innovation. Additionally, when the DE is used as a threshold variable, the DE’s impact on UIP emissions exhibits a nonlinear double-threshold effect, with two key turning points of 0.0921 and 0.5515, which constitute a three-stage model of “weak effect—strong effect—weak effect”. When human resource leve is used as a threshold variable, the impact of the digital economy on reducing urban industrial pollution is gradually increasing and exhibits a nonlinear single threshold effect. Under different geographical and economic distance spatial weight matrices, the DE’s development has a substantial negative spatial spillover effect on UIP emissions. That is, developing the local DE can directly reduce local UIP and significantly suppress UIP in neighboring areas indirectly through information sharing and technology diffusion. The findings of this study provide important management insights for government managers to advance environmental governance and promote green development.
Mingzhao Xiong, Yize Li, Haoyi Qi et al.· Frontiers in Environmental S...· 0 citations
In recent years, the rapid evolution of information and communication technology (ICT) has profoundly influenced various sectors of the economy. Nevertheless, it is crucial to underscore the environmental ramifications of the rapid expansion of information and communication technology. This research aims to examine the asymmetric effects of information and communication technology, renewable energy consumption, foreign direct investment, and economic growth on CO
2
emissions in G-20 countries from 2000 to 2022. The study used Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) and Pooled Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) techniques. The preliminary step was to determine the normality of the data series using the second-generation unit-root tests (CIPS and CADF), which are known for their high efficiency and accuracy compared to the first-generation tests. The Pedroni and Westerlund cointegration test confirms a long-run relationship among foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth (EG), information and communication technology (ICT), renewable energy (RE), and CO
2
emissions, as supported by the error correction term. The PMG-ARDL and DOLS analytical techniques confirm a positive contribution of FDI, EG, and ICT to CO
2
emissions, and declare that the G-20 countries face environmental sustainability challenges, even though they account for the largest share of global GDP and international trade. The appropriate policy implications and keenly observed practices of these sectors can help achieve a zero-carbon-emission environment without compromising economic growth, international trade, and global technological competition.
Sobia Naseem· Frontiers in Environmental S...· 0 citations
The rapid advancement of scientific innovation and industrial restructuring has extensively promoted high-quality industrial development. However, whether the digital economy (
DE
) can effectively drive the green transformation (
GT
) of manufacturing remains uncertain. This study examines the influence of
DE
on
GT
in China’s manufacturing sector by developing an impact-effect model (
IEM
) to analyze their relationship. The study examines panel data from thirteen Heilongjiang cities using fixed-effect, quantile regression, and threshold models to assess
DE
impacts on
GT
across manufacturing industries. The results reveal heterogeneous effects: industries with lower levels of green development benefit more from
DE
, while advanced sectors experience reduced marginal gains. Digital technologies significantly aid eco-friendly transformation. The findings emphasize the importance of tailoring digitalization policies to industry-specific stages of green development to maximize
GT
potential. Targeted strategies, particularly for less environmentally friendly industries, are recommended to optimize the transformative role of
DE
in sustainable manufacturing.
Fengshi Han, Jiaying Feng, F. Shahzad· African and Asian Studies· 0 citations
