How Does Digital Economy Empowering Synergistic Governance of Pollution and Carbon Reduction? An Empirical Study in the Yellow River Basin of China

Abstract

This study explores the role of the digital economy in promoting the coordinated governance of pollution and carbon reduction in China's Yellow River Economic Belt. Using dynamic panel data from 9 provinces (2012-2022), we employ a two-way fixed-effect model and mediating analysis to explore the mechanisms driving these environmental co-benefits. The results show that the development of the digital economy has significantly improved the efficiency of collaborative pollution and carbon reduction. This effect works in three main ways: innovation in green technology, upgrading the industrial structure to a cleaner energy system, and strengthening public environmental oversight through digital platforms. Further heterogeneity analysis revealed regional differences, with more pronounced synergies observed in economically developed regions and regions with lower population densities, attributed to superior digital infrastructure and greater flexibility for structural adjustment. Robustness checks confirmed the robustness of these findings. By integrating multidimensional mechanisms and spatial heterogeneity, this study advances the theoretical understanding of the dual environmental benefits of the digital economy and provides feasible insights into the use of digital solutions to achieve low-carbon transition in ecologically fragile areas.