Research On The Impact Of Information Infrastructure Construction On Carbon Emissions

Since the industrial revolution,mankind’s economic activities have been increasing carbon emissions,and buzzwords such as "carbon peaking" and "carbon neutrality" have attracted widespread attention.At the same time,the "new infrastructure" has become an important support for the information technology revolution and industrial change,supported by the new development pattern of China.The role of information infrastructure construction in carbon emission reduction is an issue that deserves attention,and therefore,this paper is important to study the impact of information infrastructure construction on carbon emissions.This paper focuses on the impact of information infrastructure construction on carbon emissions.In the article,the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2010-2019 are chosen for analysis.Firstly,the existing related literature,the concepts and theories involved are sorted out and introduced,followed by the analysis of the current situation of information infrastructure construction,carbon emission and technological innovation in China respectively.Secondly,four indicators,namely,the length of long-distance fiber optic cable lines,the ratio of Internet broadband access ports,the penetration rate of cell phones and the penetration rate of Internet,are used to construct the indicators of information infrastructure construction using the entropy method.Then,a double fixed-effects model is selected to model the impact of information infrastructure construction on carbon emissions,followed by an intermediary effect analysis with technological innovation as an intermediary variable.In order to further enhance the robustness of the model,two methods of replacing the explanatory variables and instrumental variables are carried out to test the robustness.Finally,the heterogeneity analysis of regional distribution,the level of technological innovation and carbon emission intensity is carried out.The impact of information infrastructure construction on carbon emissions under different characteristics is analyzed in depth.The conclusions obtained from the study are as follows:1.information infrastructure construction has a suppressive effect on carbon emissions;2.technological innovation acts as a mediator in the effect of information infrastructure construction on carbon emissions;3.the suppressive effect of information infrastructure construction on carbon emissions is significantly higher in eastern and central regions than in western regions;4.the effect of information infrastructure construction on carbon emissions intensity is more significant in regions with high technological innovation level;5.the impact of information infrastructure construction on carbon emission intensity is more obvious in regions with higher carbon emission intensity.Based on the analysis of the above empirical results,a series of policy recommendations can be put forward.On the one hand,the country should strengthen the development of information infrastructure construction,improve the information infrastructure construction,and enhance the construction level;on the other hand,it should reinforce the influence of technological innovation on carbon emission reduction and continuously improve the level of technological innovation;finally,it is necessary to combine the characteristics of regional development to efficiently build information infrastructure,increase the efforts to build underdeveloped regions,and and innovate and develop improved region.