From digitalization to green transformation: empirical evidence from RCEP’s industrial sectors

Lu Wan (), Xiya Wan, Yanqi Fang and Guohua Huang
Additional contact information
Lu Wan: Beijing Forestry University
Xiya Wan: Nankai University
Yanqi Fang: Peking University
Guohua Huang: Beijing Forestry University

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Within the context of global industrial chain reconfiguration, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) presents an array of collaborative opportunities for nations to foster industrial transformation. This study provides novel insights into the environmental implications of regional trade accords, focusing on the nexus between cross-border industrial integration, a hallmark of RCEP, and the advancement of green technologies within China’s manufacturing sectors. Utilizing panel data from 11 RCEP member countries spanning 2011–2019, we employ the fixed effect, mediating effect, and moderating effect models to evaluate the impact of service industry digitalization. Our findings indicate that while the digitalization of services under the RCEP significantly propels the green technology development in China’s manufacturing, this beneficial effect is dampened by increasingly rigid regulations governing digital services trade. The operational proficiency and innovative capacity of the manufacturing sector emerge as pivotal mediators in this dynamic. Conversely, the digitalization of service industries impedes the green transformation of technology-intensive manufacturing industries. Collectively, these insights elucidate the environmental repercussions of industrial digitization and affirm the environmental benefits of collaborative regional industrial chains.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-04434-6 Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04434-6

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/palcomms/about

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04434-6

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Palgrave Communications from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().