The Spatial Spillover Impact of Digital Finance on Agricultural Carbon Emission Intensity: Evidence from China

As climate change intensifies, reducing agricultural carbon emissions has become crucial for achieving sustainable development goals. Digital finance, with its potential to transform traditional farming practices, may play a key role in this transition. This study examines the impact of digital finance on agricultural carbon emission intensity (ACE) based on comprehensive provincial data from China (2011–2022). Through rigorous econometric analysis, we find that digital finance significantly reduces ACE, with particularly strong effects in western regions compared to eastern and central areas. The results demonstrate that agricultural total factor productivity serves as an important channel through which digital finance lowers emissions. Furthermore, environmental regulation enhances digital finance’s emission reduction potential, while spatial analysis reveals positive spillover effects to neighboring regions. These findings remain robust across various model specifications and testing methods. The study provides valuable insights into how digital financial tools can contribute to low-carbon agricultural development, highlighting the importance of region-specific policies and inter-regional coordination for maximizing environmental benefits.