The Impact of Carbon Emission Intensity on High- Quality Economic Development: An Empirical Study from 284 Prefecture-Level Cities in China

Currently, China is at a critical juncture for achieving high-quality economic development, and the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality pose new challenges to this endeavor.Therefore, based on panel data from 284 prefecture-level cities in China spanning from 2011 to 2021, this study employs various econometric methods and considers green technological innovation as a mediating variable to empirically examine the impact of carbon emissions on high-quality economic development and its underlying mechanisms.The results indicate that there exists a non-linear, inverted "U-shaped" relationship between carbon emission intensity and high-quality economic development.As carbon emission intensity increases, its role transitions from promoting high-quality economic development to inhibiting it.Furthermore, both carbon emission intensity and high-quality economic development exhibit significant spatial positive correlations and spatial spillover effects.The local area's carbon emission intensity also affects the high-quality economic development of neighboring regions.Green technological innovation serves as a mediator, implying that carbon emission intensity can influence high-quality economic development through its impact on fostering green technological innovation.This study holds significant theoretical and practical implications in aiding the implementation of China's carbon reduction policies and fostering high-quality economic development across various cities.