公共数据开放能否促进降污降碳？——基于政府公共数据平台上线的准自然实验

Can Public Data Opening Promote Pollution and Carbon Reduction?—A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on the Launch of Government Public Data Platforms

摘要: 在“双碳”目标与数字治理融合背景下，公共数据开放的环境治理效应尚待检验。本研究基于2008~2022年中国204个城市的面板数据，以政府数据平台分批上线为准自然实验，采用多期双重差分法评估公共数据开放对降污降碳的影响。结果表明：公共数据开放对传统污染物排放有负向但不显著的影响；与碳排放强度呈倒“U”型关系，拐点约6.8年，即短期碳排放上升、长期下降；绿色技术创新、资源配置优化、政府治理增效与公众监督发挥显著中介作用；东部及高环境规制强度城市拐点更早。研究证实公共数据开放具有长期降碳潜力，需配套政策缩短“绿色悖论”期。

Abstract: Against the backdrop of the integration of the “dual-carbon” goals and digital governance, the environmental governance effects of public data opening remain to be empirically examined. Based on the panel data of 204 Chinese cities from 2008 to 2022, this study takes the phased launch of government public data platforms as a quasi-natural experiment and adopts the multi-period difference-in-differences method to evaluate the impact of public data opening on pollution and carbon reduction. The results show that public data opening exerts a negative yet insignificant effect on the emissions of traditional pollutants. There exists an inverted U-shaped relationship between public data opening and carbon emission intensity, with an inflection point at approximately 6.8 years, indicating that carbon emissions rise in the short run and decline in the long run. Green technological innovation, optimized resource allocation, enhanced governmental governance efficiency and public supervision play significant mediating roles. The inflection point emerges earlier in eastern cities and cities with stringent environmental regulations. This study verifies the long-term carbon reduction potential of public data opening. Supporting policies are therefore required to shorten the duration of the “green paradox”.