The Impact of Enterprise Digital Transformation on Carbon Reduction—Experience From Listed Companies in China

At present, on the one hand, domestic enterprises carry out digital transformation one after another due to the pressure of survival and development, and on the other hand, due to environmental regulations, enterprises are facing the pressure of carbon emission reduction. This paper discusses the impact of enterprises’ digital transformation on carbon emissions and finds that enterprises’ digital transformation will increase carbon emissions, mainly because technological progress will bring about more extensive use of computers in production services, and the use of fossil energy will increase carbon emissions before the energy structure is effectively improved. Even if enterprises’ digital transformation can improve of total factor productivity, it is difficult to offset the increase in carbon emissions caused by the use of more fossil energy. In addition, it is also found that for state-owned enterprises, the carbon emission pressure brought about by digital transformation is higher than that of non-state-owned enterprises; environmental regulation can significantly restrain carbon emissions. This study reveals the real impact of enterprises’ digital transformation on carbon emissions and provides a direction for enterprises to implement digital transformation and carbon emission reduction.