Ecology and Environmental Sciences ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (6): 885-897.DOI: 10.16258/j.cnki.1674-5906.2026.06.006

• Papers on Carbon Cycling and Carbon Emission Reduction • Previous Articles     Next Articles

How the Integration of Digital and Real Economies Promotes the Synergy of Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction in the Yellow River Basin: A Mechanism Analysis Based on the Perspective of R&D Innovation and Cost Reduction and Efficiency Gains

LIU Shiqi1(), ZHANG Airu1,2,*()   

  1. 1 School of Finance and Economics, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, P. R. China
    2 Sanjiangyuan Ecological Big Data Application Laboratory, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, P. R. China
  • Received:2025-11-27 Revised:2026-03-19 Accepted:2026-04-25 Online:2026-06-18 Published:2026-06-08

数实融合何以促进黄河流域减污降碳协同增效——基于研发创新与降本增效视角的机制分析

刘世琦1(), 张爱儒1,2,*()   

  1. 1 青海大学财经学院青海 西宁 810016
    2 青海大学三江源生态大数据应用实验室青海 西宁 810016
  • 通讯作者: * 张爱儒,E-mail: zyang5300@163.com
  • 作者简介:刘世琦(2003年生),男,硕士研究生,研究方向为区域经济发展。E-mail: 1667685997@qq.com
  • 基金资助:
    青海大学2025年研究生科研和实践创新项目(2025-GMKY-31);青海省哲学社会科学重大“揭榜挂帅”规划项目(25JB002);青海省“昆仑英才?高端创新创业人才”培养杰出人才项目(k9924063)

Abstract:

As the cradle of Chinese civilization and a crucial ecological and economic hub in northern China, the Yellow River Basin plays a pivotal role in the coordinated advancement of pollution reduction and carbon emission reduction. The integration of digital and real economies—a byproduct of digital transformation within the real economy—is of significant research value, particularly regarding its impact on the synergistic efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction. Based on panel data from 65 prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin from 2012 to 2024, this paper uses the entropy method and the coupling coordination degree model to measure the coordination level between the integration of digital and real economies and the synergistic reduction of pollution and carbon emissions, and conducts an empirical study on the underlying mechanisms between them. The findings are as follows, 1) the improvement of the integration level of digital and real economies in the Yellow River Basin has a significant positive impact on the synergistic efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction. This conclusion remains valid after robustness tests and endogeneity tests, and can be more fully realized in regions with a sound digital ecology. 2) The application of digital platforms and the increase in corporate R&D intensity can drive the real economy to achieve “cost reduction and efficiency gains”. While spurring digital innovation and green innovation, they also promote the improvement of the synergistic efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction across the entire basin. 3) “Carbon reduction” is more likely to demonstrate the breakthrough value of digital technologies in regions with relatively weak policy coverage, while “pollution reduction” can better achieve effective resonance between technological empowerment and environmental protection in key cities with strict supervision. The research conclusions provide a reference for the digital construction and green development of the Yellow River Basin.

Key words: integration of digital and real economies, reduce pollution and carbon, the Yellow River Basin, resource allocation efficiency, digital innovation

摘要:

黄河流域作为中华文明的摇篮及中国北方的生态与经济要地,其在减污降碳方面的协同推进尤为关键,数实融合作为数字技术在推动实体经济转型升级中的必然结果,科学评估其对减污降碳协同增效的影响具有重要的研究意义。本文基于黄河流域65个地级市2012-2024年的面板数据,利用熵值法与耦合协调度模型测度数实融合与减污降碳协同水平,实证研究二者间的作用机制。研究发现,1)黄河流域数实融合水平的提升能够对减污降碳协同增效产生显著的正向影响,该结论在进行稳健性检验和内生性检验后仍然成立,并在具备完善的数字生态的区域中能够实现更充分的释放。2)数字平台的应用与企业研发强度的提升可带动实体经济实现“降本增效”,并在催生数字创新与绿色创新的同时带动全流域减污降碳协同增效水平提升。3)“降碳”在政策覆盖相对薄弱的区域更易展现数字技术的突破性价值,“减污”则在监管严格的重点城市更能实现技术赋能与环境保护的有效共振。研究结论可为黄河流域的数字建设与绿色发展提供参考。

关键词: 数实融合, 减污降碳, 黄河流域, 资源配置效率, 数字创新

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