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With the rapid digitalization of China’s economy, the digital economy (DE)and green technological innovation(GTI) have emerged as dual driving forces in the country’s pursuit of green and high-quality development in the new era. Drawing on panel data from 261 prefecture-level cities in China between 2011 and 2021, this study employs a fixed-effects model to empirically examine the impact of the DE on urban ecological environments(UEE), with a particular focus on the mediating role of GTI. The findings reveal that DE development significantly enhances urban ecological conditions and promotes low-carbon urban transformation. Moreover, GTI serves as a critical intermediary in this relationship. Robustness tests using provincial-level DE indicators as instrumental variables further support the results. In light of these findings, at this pivotal stage of China’s green economic transition, it is imperative to fully leverage the potential of the DE and foster an enabling environment for green innovation, thereby accelerating urban low-carbon development.

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Big Data-Driven Insights into the Digital Economy’s Impact on Urban Ecological Sustainability: Unveiling the Mediation Role of Green Technological Innovation in China

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Regina Fang-Ying Lin,
  • Jiakai Lian,
  • Huiqi Zeng

摘要

With the rapid digitalization of China’s economy, the digital economy (DE)and green technological innovation(GTI) have emerged as dual driving forces in the country’s pursuit of green and high-quality development in the new era. Drawing on panel data from 261 prefecture-level cities in China between 2011 and 2021, this study employs a fixed-effects model to empirically examine the impact of the DE on urban ecological environments(UEE), with a particular focus on the mediating role of GTI. The findings reveal that DE development significantly enhances urban ecological conditions and promotes low-carbon urban transformation. Moreover, GTI serves as a critical intermediary in this relationship. Robustness tests using provincial-level DE indicators as instrumental variables further support the results. In light of these findings, at this pivotal stage of China’s green economic transition, it is imperative to fully leverage the potential of the DE and foster an enabling environment for green innovation, thereby accelerating urban low-carbon development.