Industrial Robots and Urban Carbon Emissions: Exploring Mechanisms and Implications

Fuyu Zhang, Qiang Wang and Rongrong Li

Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 33, issue 4, 5351-5373

Abstract: Urbanization, a dominant trend in global development, is integral to economic growth and social transformation but remains a primary driver of carbon emissions, threatening ecological stability and climate goals. This study investigates the potential of industrial robots to mediate the nexus between urban expansion and carbon emissions, aligning with SDG 9, 11, and 13, which focus on industry innovation, sustainable cities, and climate action. Using a comprehensive dataset spanning 61 countries, we employ panel data and threshold regression models to examine how industrial robots influence urban carbon dynamics. Our findings highlight that while urbanization tends to increase both total and per capita carbon emissions, industrial robots can significantly mitigate these effects under specific conditions. Notably, the application intensity of industrial robots plays a critical role: when robot utilization exceeds threshold levels, the exacerbating impact of urbanization on emissions shifts to a mitigative one, underscoring the transformative capacity of robotics for low‐carbon urban development. However, the potential of industrial robots in facilitating urban decarbonization is accompanied by several challenges. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensuring that industrial robots are not only transformative tools for low‐carbon urban development but also environmentally sustainable in their lifecycle and usage. This study provides novel insights into the role of industrial robots as a moderating force in urban decarbonization, while emphasizing the need for policies to address their potential drawbacks.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:4:p:5351-5373

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