Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations

Abstract Carbon neutrality technology innovation (CNTI) is essential for China’s deep decarbonization. Evaluating the interaction between environmental policies and carbon-neutral technology is crucial for achieving the “Dual Carbon” goals and advancing China’s modernization. This paper employs pane...

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Main Authors: Yingying Ding, Caifeng Bi, Pingping Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06207-2
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author Yingying Ding
Caifeng Bi
Pingping Sun
author_facet Yingying Ding
Caifeng Bi
Pingping Sun
author_sort Yingying Ding
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Carbon neutrality technology innovation (CNTI) is essential for China’s deep decarbonization. Evaluating the interaction between environmental policies and carbon-neutral technology is crucial for achieving the “Dual Carbon” goals and advancing China’s modernization. This paper employs panel data spanning 271 prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2023. Anchored in the “Technology-Organization-Environment” (TOE) framework, it examines the transmission mechanism and moderation effect of the “dual pilot” policy aimed at promoting CNTI. Furthermore, the research conducts a comparative analysis of the net effects of single pilot policies versus the synergistic and sequencing effects arising from the combined implementation of “dual pilot” policies, while also examining how urban characteristics influence policy outcomes through a multidimensional heterogeneity lens. The research results indicate that the “dual pilot” policy has a more favorable effect on CNTI compared to the single pilot policy. The “dual pilot” policy facilitates CNTI through three primary mechanisms: increasing research and development investment, promoting the upgrading of human capital structure, and enhancing informal environmental regulation. And CNTI is more significant in large cities, eastern cities, and non-resource-based cities.
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spelling doaj-art-dc9a290a98864cbcb54cb9907d36258a2025-08-20T03:45:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112410.1038/s41598-025-06207-2Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinationsYingying Ding0Caifeng Bi1Pingping Sun2Center for Agricultural-Sage Culture Studies, Weifang University of Science and TechnologyInstitute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong UniversityBusiness School, Shandong University of TechnologyAbstract Carbon neutrality technology innovation (CNTI) is essential for China’s deep decarbonization. Evaluating the interaction between environmental policies and carbon-neutral technology is crucial for achieving the “Dual Carbon” goals and advancing China’s modernization. This paper employs panel data spanning 271 prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2023. Anchored in the “Technology-Organization-Environment” (TOE) framework, it examines the transmission mechanism and moderation effect of the “dual pilot” policy aimed at promoting CNTI. Furthermore, the research conducts a comparative analysis of the net effects of single pilot policies versus the synergistic and sequencing effects arising from the combined implementation of “dual pilot” policies, while also examining how urban characteristics influence policy outcomes through a multidimensional heterogeneity lens. The research results indicate that the “dual pilot” policy has a more favorable effect on CNTI compared to the single pilot policy. The “dual pilot” policy facilitates CNTI through three primary mechanisms: increasing research and development investment, promoting the upgrading of human capital structure, and enhancing informal environmental regulation. And CNTI is more significant in large cities, eastern cities, and non-resource-based cities.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06207-2Low-carbon cityInnovative cityCarbon neutrality technology innovationSynergy effect
spellingShingle Yingying Ding
Caifeng Bi
Pingping Sun
Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations
Scientific Reports
Low-carbon city
Innovative city
Carbon neutrality technology innovation
Synergy effect
title Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations
title_full Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations
title_fullStr Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations
title_full_unstemmed Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations
title_short Low carbon constraints, innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation: empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations
title_sort low carbon constraints innovation driven and carbon neutral technological innovation empirical evidence based on multiple policy combinations
topic Low-carbon city
Innovative city
Carbon neutrality technology innovation
Synergy effect
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06207-2
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AT caifengbi lowcarbonconstraintsinnovationdrivenandcarbonneutraltechnologicalinnovationempiricalevidencebasedonmultiplepolicycombinations
AT pingpingsun lowcarbonconstraintsinnovationdrivenandcarbonneutraltechnologicalinnovationempiricalevidencebasedonmultiplepolicycombinations