Study On The Influence Of Digital Inclusive Finance And Technological Innovation On Regional Carbon Emissions

Since the industrial age,the global surge in demand for energy sources such as coal,petroleum,and natural gas has led to excessive greenhouse gas emissions,posing significant challenges to the Earth’s ecological environment,human life,and climate change.As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the developing countries,China set the "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" goals in 2020,signifying that China would incorporate the "dual carbon" goals into its high-quality development strategy,with the aim of reshaping its energy structure,reducing greenhouse gas emissions,and prioritizing the development of a low-carbon economy.Digital inclusive finance and technological innovation play a critical role in optimizing industrial structure and economic transition,making them essential pathways to achieve the "dual carbon" targets.Therefore,studying the impact of digital inclusive finance and technological innovation on regional carbon emissions is of profound practical significance.In this paper,the digital inclusive finance index of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021 is utilized to construct technological innovation and carbon emission indices,and the relationship between digital inclusive finance,technological innovation,and carbon emissions is thoroughly analyzed.Firstly,we conducted a descriptive analysis to study the time-varying trend and spatial distribution characteristics of the three,aiming to find potential changing relationships.Secondly,we constructed a spatial error model to conduct a baseline regression analysis on the impacts of digital inclusive finance and technological innovation on regional carbon emissions,exploring their influential factors and intensity in the eastern,central,and western regions.Finally,we constructed a mediation effect model to further verify the directional function and impact effect of digital inclusive finance and technological innovation on promoting regional carbon emissions.The research findings indicate that:(1)Digital inclusive finance can lower the threshold for corporate financing,propel business development,enhance energy efficiency,and significantly restrain regional carbon emissions.In contrast,practical and novel technological innovations can stimulate economic growth and increase resource demand,thus promoting carbon emissions.(2)The results from heterogeneity analysis reveal a "stronger in the East and weaker in the West" trend in the impact of the digital inclusive finance index and technological innovation on regional carbon emissionsnationwide.Meanwhile,the influence of digital inclusive finance on technological innovation presents a "central > eastern > western" pattern.(3)Digital inclusive finance can elevate the conversion of technological innovation results and the total factor productivity at the regional level,providing a shared platform for innovating entities and consequently invigorating the emission reduction effect of technological innovation.Through an in-depth investigation of the mutual impacts among digital inclusive finance,technological innovation,and regional carbon emissions,this paper thoroughly analyses the factors affecting regional carbon emissions.The aim is to provide theoretical support for optimizing regional industrial structure and industrial development transformation,and to offer profound theoretical reflection and empirical evidence to achieve the "dual carbon" goals.These findings can further deepen our understanding of the interplay between digital inclusive finance,technological innovation,and regional carbon emissions,contributing to the formulation of effective policies to drive green development in China and globally.