How digital technology spillover leverages carbon transfers in multiple sectors

The concurrent acceleration of digitalization and urgent carbon reduction goals makes it critical to understand the spatial relationship between digital technology spillover and cross-regional carbon transfers. To this end, we investigate how interprovincial digital technology spillovers affect carbon transfers across China's economic sectors. Using a multi-regional input-output model for 31 Chinese provinces, we identify strong spatial correlations between sectoral carbon transfers and regional digital technology spillovers. We find that this relationship hinges on eco-friendly product development, market-aligned innovation, and sector-wide industrial transformations within their respective sectors. These findings provide policymakers with actionable, sector-specific insights for harnessing digitalization to mitigate carbon emissions, thereby advancing sustainable development and the pursuit of carbon equity.