Abstract In the context of global climate governance action, an accurate study of the impact of digital economic development on carbon emissions is of great significance to promote the low-carbon transformation of national economic development, achieve the goal of carbon peak emission, carbon neutralization and build a community with a shared future for mankind as soon as possible. Based on the panel data of 99 countries from 1990 to 2019, this paper constructs a dynamic panel model to investigate the impact of digital economy development on carbon emissions and its mechanism. The results are as follows: (1) From the national level, the development of digital economy can significantly reduce carbon emissions, and the elasticity of emission reduction is positively related to the level of economic development of all countries; (2) The mechanism test shows that the digital economy can save energy and reduce emissions by improving energy efficiency and adjusting energy structure in both middle-and high-income countries; (3) From the industry level, the digital economy has a significant effect on reducing carbon emissions in the construction, manufacturing and energy industries of middle-income countries, and plays a significant role in manufacturing and transport industries in high-income countries, and both of them achive emission reduction by improving energy efficiency. The above conclusions provide policy implications for promoting digital economy development and climate governance, accelerating low-carbon economic transformation in various countries, and deploying Carbon peak action in China.
2022, Vol. 39 
