The impact of artificial intelligence on carbon emissions inequality: evidence from China cities

Abstract

We use carbon emission data of 263 cities in China from 2008 to 2019 to measure carbon emissions inequality (CEI) at the urban level, and examine how artificial intelligence (AI) technology influences CEI as well as the internal mechanism within the impact. According to the results, AI and CEI demonstrate an inverted U-shape relationship and the possible influence channels are industrial structure upgrading and income inequality. Further heterogeneity analysis illustrates that the effect differs with regions and whether the city is resource-based. Spatial analysis shows that spatial spillovers affect decays with distance. The moderating effect illustrates that green energy efficiency alleviates the impact of AI on CEI. These results highlight the problems posed by CEI and provide potential solutions. We propose policy recommendations for both government and business, including efforts to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and to regulate industrial structure upgrades to achieve the goal of reducing carbon inequality.