Is ICT innovation a recipe for carbon efficiency gains? Evidence from patent retrieval

In recent years, information and communication technology (ICT) innovation has been an essential part of China's strategy for achieving low carbon and improving carbon emission efficiency (CEE). This research innovatively calculates ICT innovation indexes for 30 Chinese regions and 12 ICT innovation indexes from 2007 to 2019 across 30 regions in China. Based on this, this study investigates how ICT innovation affects CEE from a digital technology innovation perspective by applying the system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) dynamic technique. This study also explores the mediating effect of industrial structure upgrading and R&D intensity and the threshold effect of human capital. The results show that ICT innovation facilitates CEE improvement, with High-speed network and Large-capacity and high-speed storage technologies being the main contributors to green technology. ICT innovation indirectly improves the CEE level by enhancing the industrial structure and R&D intensity. Additionally, the impact of ICT innovation on CEE tends to grow when human capital quality rises. The results of this paper will benefit policymakers in developing emission reduction plans from an ICT innovation perspective.