How does digital finance accelerate low-carbon development: evidence from the Yellow River Basin, China

AbstractDigital finance has become one of the most important factors that drives the transformation toward a low-carbon economy. Although some researchers have examined the association between digital finance and low-carbon development, the indirect effect and asymmetric effect of digital finance on low-carbon development still needs to receive more attention. Taking 71 cities in the Yellow River Basin as an empirical area, this study analyzed how digital finance accelerates low-carbon development, proving that digital finance can directly boost low-carbon development. Moreover, technological innovation and industrial upgrading driven by digital finance can also reduce carbon emission intensity and accelerate low-carbon development. Furthermore, the results of the asymmetric test indicate that cities with higher carbon emission intensity have a more substantial positive influence. The recommendations presented in this study are beneficial for accelerating the progress of low-carbon development in the Yellow River Basin.Keywords: digital financelow-carbon developmentthe mediation effectYellow River Basin Disclosure statementThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication in this article.Supplemental dataSupplemental data for this article can be accessed here.Additional informationFundingThis study was mainly supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (No. 2019QZKK0406), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 42271224 and 42171170).