Impacts of green technology innovation on carbon emissions: a spatial-based perspective

Green technology innovation is crucial in the battle against climate change. Working with a data set that includes 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China from 2007 to 2022, we used the spatial Durbin model to empirically examine the impact of green technology innovation on carbon emissions. The findings indicate that green technology innovation not only fosters local carbon reduction but also exerts an inhibitory impact on carbon emissions in neighboring areas through spatial spillover effects. Accounting for the distinct regional disparities, the sample was stratified into eastern, central, and western regions. The analysis indicated that the spatial spillover effect was notably significant in the eastern and central regions, whereas it was not detectable in the western region. The heterogeneity analysis, conducted by integrating the spatial Durbin model with interaction term models, reveals that the level of regional economic development and government financial support tend to enhance the carbon emission reduction impact of green technology innovation. In contrast, environmental regulations tend to diminish this effect. According to the research results, we have some policy implications. The study could assist developing countries, facing regional imbalances, in achieving their emission reduction targets.