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How Does Usage of Robot Affect Corporate Carbon Emissions?—Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Sector

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  • Xiaoyi Li

    (China Center for Special Economic Zone Research, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Qibo Tian

    (China Center for Special Economic Zone Research, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

Abstract

Robot usage has become an intrinsic requirement to drive the intelligence transformation of the manufacturing industry, providing a key driver for carbon emission reduction in China’s manufacturing industry. This paper examines the carbon emission reduction effect of robot usage at three levels: theoretical, empirical, and decomposition. On the basis of the pollution emission data of segments of China’s manufacturing industry from 2006 to 2020, the paper takes matching robot stock and incremental data from the International Federation of Robotics statistics, and applies the instrumental variable method to identify and estimate the role played by industry robot stock and incremental improvement in reducing pollution emissions. The empirical results show that the usage of robots does significantly reduce the carbon emissions of the manufacturing industry in China. Further, mechanism testing revealed that robot use reduces corporate pollution emissions mainly through channels such as R&D investment and manual substitution. The research provides microscopic evidence for objectively assessing the impact of robot use on environmental pollution emissions from the perspective of promoting robot applications, and suggests policy recommendations for reducing pollution emissions from China’s manufacturing sector, which can help achieve harmonious economic and environmental development.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyi Li & Qibo Tian, 2023. "How Does Usage of Robot Affect Corporate Carbon Emissions?—Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1198-:d:1029534
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Qiang & Zhou, Peng, 2025. "How Does Artificial Intelligence Change Carbon Emission Intensity? A Firm Lifecycle Perspective," Cardiff Economics Working Papers E2025/9, Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School, Economics Section.
    2. Jun Gao & Ning Xu & Ju Zhou, 2023. "Does Digital Transformation Contribute to Corporate Carbon Emissions Reduction? Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Qianqian Guo & Zhifang Su, 2023. "The Application of Industrial Robot and the High-Quality Development of Manufacturing Industry: From a Sustainability Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-26, August.
    4. Xianpu Xu & Yuchen Song, 2023. "Is There a Conflict between Automation and Environment? Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Carbon Emissions in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.

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