Can agricultural mechanization promote carbon reduction in countries along the Belt and Road?

Whether agricultural mechanization can drive carbon reduction in Belt and Road countries remains an unanswered question. This paper investigates how agricultural mechanization can contribute to agricultural carbon emissions reduction in countries along the Belt and Road, and to test whether technological progress can play a moderating role. The findings show that: 1) agricultural mechanization can effectively promote carbon emission reduction in countries along the Belt and Road; 2) countries with a high level of technological progress can effectively reduce agricultural carbon emissions by improving agricultural mechanization, and technological progress plays a positive regulating role; 3) agricultural mechanization is regionally heterogeneous and income heterogeneous, and its carbon-reducing effects are more pronounced in Asia, low- and middle-income countries and upper-middle-income countries. The results of the study provide lessons for climate governance and agricultural development in countries along the Belt and Road and help governments to formulate relevant policies.