The influences of the advancement of green technology on agricultural CO2 release reduction: A case of Chinese agricultural industry

Abstract

The development of green technology (GT) may have a vital influence in decreasing carbon releases, and the linkage between the advancement of GT and CO2 releases in China's agricultural industry has not attracted enough attention. The main objectives of this study are to assess the influence of agricultural green technology advancement on efficiency enhancement, release control capabilities, agricultural energy structure, and agriculture industrial structure. This article decomposes the advancement of green technology (AGTP) in the agricultural industry in China into resource-saving green technology advancement (AEGTP) and emission reduction green technology advancement (ACGTP). At the same time, to evaluate the intermediary impact of green technology advancement, a two-step econometric model and an intermediary impact model were utilized to evaluate the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 1998 to 2018. The role of AGTP (including ACGTP and AEGTP) and CO2 release concentration has also been explored critically. The results show that (i) under the two-step measurement method, AGTP has substantial favorable impacts on agricultural energy efficiency (EF) and possesses a negative impact on agriculture industrial structure (PS) and agricultural energy structure (ES). Agricultural energy efficiency (EF) and agriculture industrial structure (PS) under AGTP will reduce CO2 release concentration, but the path of agricultural energy structure (ES) will increase CO2 release concentration. (ii) At the national level, AGTP has an immediate unfavorable influence on CO2 releases. After introducing the intermediary variables, the intermediary impact of AGTP on CO2 releases through agricultural energy efficiency (EF), agriculture industrial structure (PS), and agricultural energy structure (ES) is also significantly negative, and the direct impacts of each variable are higher than the intermediary impact. (iii) In terms of different zones, the direct impacts of AGTP are all significant. The order of significance of the direct impacts of different zones is west to central and central to eastern. The overall significance ranking of the mediating impact is ACGTP > AEGTP > AGTP, and the significance ranking of each index is ES > EF > PS. Finally, this article puts forward some policy recommendations to reduce CO2 releases.