The Impact of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions from China’s Livestock Industry: Moderating Effects and Spatial Spillovers

Abstract

In recent years, China’s Central No. 1 Document has repeatedly highlighted the need to advance agricultural digitalization and green transformation, with the aim of improving production efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. For the livestock sector, emission reduction is an essential component of achieving the agricultural “dual carbon” goals, and digital transformation is becoming a functional mechanism for achieving a lower carbon footprint. Using balanced panel data, this study evaluates the development level of the digital economy and livestock-related carbon emissions, and further investigates how the former affects the latter. In addition, the paper examines whether regional economic development moderates this relationship and whether the effects extend across neighboring regions through spatial spillovers. According to the derived data: (1) During the sample period, livestock carbon emissions in China generally declined with fluctuations, although clear regional disparities remained; (2) The digital economy contributes to lower carbon emissions in livestock production; such emissions tend to be lower in regions with more advanced digital development; (3) The carbon reduction effect of the digital economy is further enhanced by regional economic development, indicating that its impact is more significant in more developed regions; (4) Spatial spillovers are also evident, as digital development in neighboring regions influences local livestock emissions. Collectively, the results highlight the importance of coordinating digitalization with low-carbon transitions in the livestock sector.