Author(s)

Nanting Wang

Corresponding Author

Nanting Wang

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by household consumption currently account for approximately two-thirds of total global emissions. Accelerating the transformation of public lifestyles is thus essential to mitigating climate change and realizing sustainable development. Using China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) data from 2013-2019, this study conducted a quasi-natural experiment based on the "Broadband China" pilot city policy and employed a multi-period difference-in-differences(DID) model to explore the mechanism behind and the heterogeneous effects of the digital economy on household green consumption. The results obtained demonstrate that the digital economy significantly reduces the scale of household carbon consumption and promotes low-carbon consumption by improving residents' digital literacy. The digital economy is also more likely to reduce carbon emissions in rural areas as well as the consumption of water, electricity, fuel, transportation, and communication.

Keywords

digital economy; broadband China construction; green consumption; digital literacy