The Pathways of Green Technology Innovation to Economic Growth Quality: Evidence from China
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The Pathways of Green Technology Innovation to Economic Growth Quality: Evidence from China

Chenyue Wang 1*
1 Henan University
*Corresponding author: chenyue.wang@live.vu.au.edu
Published on 26 November 2025
Volume Cover
AEMPS Vol.243
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-557-8
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-558-5
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Abstract

In the context of global shift towards green and low-carbon development, the role and path of green technological innovation in improving the quality of economic growth remain to be fully elucidated. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning 2011 to 2023, this study establishes a three-dimensional index framework including green total factor productivity, industrial structure upgrading index, and carbon intensity, and uses fixed effect and mediating effect models for empirical analysis. The empirical findings indicate that green technology innovation mainly drives the quality of economic growth through the synergy between industrial structure upgrading (29.8% of the mediating effect) and energy efficiency improvement (55.9% of the mediating effect), and the synergistic effect between green technology and digital infrastructure is significantly stronger in eastern China than that in the central and western regions (the central effect is not significant, and the western region is only marginally significant at the 10% level). The results of this study provide an empirical basis for solving the "last mile" problem of green technology transformation and formulating differentiated regional green innovation policies.

Keywords:

green technology innovation, economic growth quality, digital infrastructure, mediating effect, regional heterogeneity

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Wang,C. (2025). The Pathways of Green Technology Innovation to Economic Growth Quality: Evidence from China. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,243,41-50.

References

[1]. Ömer, U. and Doğan, K.C. (2025) Designing Effective Public Policies to Address Global Warming. IGI Global Scientific Publishing.

[2]. Liu, L., Yu, J., Sun, Y., et al. (2025) Government Subsidies and Enterprise Innovation in Chokepoint Technologies: Evidence from China’s Advanced Materials Sector. Journal of Innovation and Development, 11(3), 155-175.

[3]. Bu, M. and Liu, L. (2024) Science and Technology and Innovation. Science and Technology and Innovation, (05), 149-151.

[4]. Liu, Y. (2025) Research on the Impact of ESG Performance of Technology-Based Enterprises on Total Factor Productivity. Qilu University of Technology.

[5]. Huang, S. (2023) Research on the Relationship between Green Technology Innovation and Economic Growth. Shanghai Commerce, (06), 180-182.

[6]. Zhang, X. (2022) Research on the Relationship between Green Technology Innovation and the Quality of Economic Growth. Research on Technology Economics and Management, (12), 23-28.

[7]. Liu, J. and Li, Z. (2023). Digital Economy, Green Technology Innovation and Green Economic Growth. Journal of Beijing Union University, 37(05), 1-9.

[8]. Fan, D. and Sun, X. (2020). Environmental Regulation, Green Technological Innovation and Green Economic Growth. Chinese Population, Resources and Environment, 30(06), 105-115.

[9]. Bai, M., Cheng, H. and Zheng, K. (2024) Research on the Interaction between Green Technology Innovation, Economic Growth and Carbon Emissions Based on PVAR Model. Innovation Science and Technology, 24(12), 26-39.

[10]. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. (2025) Annual Data of the National Bureau of Statistics. 2025-08-24. http: //www.stats.gov.cn/

[11]. China Research Data Service Platform. (2025) CNRDS Database. 2025-09-02. https: //www.cnrds.com/

[12]. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. (2011–2023) China Statistical Yearbook 2011–2023. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

[13]. Zhang, W., Li, H., Wang, S. and Zhang, T. (2023) Impact of Digital Infrastructure Inputs on Industrial Carbon Emission Intensity: Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Panel Data. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 30(24), 65296–65313.

[14]. Ozturk, I., Razzaq, A., Sharif, A. and Yu, Z. (2023) Investigating the Impact of Environmental Governance, Green Innovation, and Renewable Energy on Trade-Adjusted Material Footprint in G20 Countries. Resources Policy, 86, 104212.

References

[1]. Ömer, U. and Doğan, K.C. (2025) Designing Effective Public Policies to Address Global Warming. IGI Global Scientific Publishing.

[2]. Liu, L., Yu, J., Sun, Y., et al. (2025) Government Subsidies and Enterprise Innovation in Chokepoint Technologies: Evidence from China’s Advanced Materials Sector. Journal of Innovation and Development, 11(3), 155-175.

[3]. Bu, M. and Liu, L. (2024) Science and Technology and Innovation. Science and Technology and Innovation, (05), 149-151.

[4]. Liu, Y. (2025) Research on the Impact of ESG Performance of Technology-Based Enterprises on Total Factor Productivity. Qilu University of Technology.

[5]. Huang, S. (2023) Research on the Relationship between Green Technology Innovation and Economic Growth. Shanghai Commerce, (06), 180-182.

[6]. Zhang, X. (2022) Research on the Relationship between Green Technology Innovation and the Quality of Economic Growth. Research on Technology Economics and Management, (12), 23-28.

[7]. Liu, J. and Li, Z. (2023). Digital Economy, Green Technology Innovation and Green Economic Growth. Journal of Beijing Union University, 37(05), 1-9.

[8]. Fan, D. and Sun, X. (2020). Environmental Regulation, Green Technological Innovation and Green Economic Growth. Chinese Population, Resources and Environment, 30(06), 105-115.

[9]. Bai, M., Cheng, H. and Zheng, K. (2024) Research on the Interaction between Green Technology Innovation, Economic Growth and Carbon Emissions Based on PVAR Model. Innovation Science and Technology, 24(12), 26-39.

[10]. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. (2025) Annual Data of the National Bureau of Statistics. 2025-08-24. http: //www.stats.gov.cn/

[11]. China Research Data Service Platform. (2025) CNRDS Database. 2025-09-02. https: //www.cnrds.com/

[12]. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. (2011–2023) China Statistical Yearbook 2011–2023. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

[13]. Zhang, W., Li, H., Wang, S. and Zhang, T. (2023) Impact of Digital Infrastructure Inputs on Industrial Carbon Emission Intensity: Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Panel Data. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 30(24), 65296–65313.

[14]. Ozturk, I., Razzaq, A., Sharif, A. and Yu, Z. (2023) Investigating the Impact of Environmental Governance, Green Innovation, and Renewable Energy on Trade-Adjusted Material Footprint in G20 Countries. Resources Policy, 86, 104212.

Cite this article

Wang,C. (2025). The Pathways of Green Technology Innovation to Economic Growth Quality: Evidence from China. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,243,41-50.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of CONF-BPS 2026 Symposium: Innovation, Finance, and Governance for Sustainable Global Growth

ISBN: 978-1-80590-557-8(Print) / 978-1-80590-558-5(Online)
Editor: Canh Thien Dang, Li Chai
Conference website: https://www.confbps.org/Beijing.html
Conference date: 5 March 2026
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.243
ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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