Does the application of industrial robots reduce the intensity of CO2 emissions embodied in manufacturing exports?

Abstract

Industrial robot application (IRA) provides an opportunity for the low-carbon development of trade. This study focuses on the green revolution of manufacturing export trade, analyzes the mechanism by which IRA affects CO₂ emissions embodied in manufacturing exports (CIE), and conducts an empirical test based on panel data from 37 countries from 2000 to 2019. This study found that first, IRA can significantly reduce CIE, but there is a U-shaped nexus between the two, which shows a rebound effect. Second, the heterogeneity test demonstrates that in comparison to both the low-tech and high-tech sectors, IRA in the medium-tech industry can significantly reduce CIE; compared with the low-IRA sectors, the high-IRA sectors exhibit a more obvious reduction. In addition, IRA has a stronger effect on high-carbon-intensity areas. Third, the mechanism test shows that IRA mainly affects CIE through low-carbon technology and productivity effects. Moreover, environmental regulations and the manufacturing intelligence process positively moderate the nexus between IRA and CIE. Finally, these conclusions provide possible empirical evidence for the smart evolution of the manufacturing industry and the green development of trade.