Environmental regulation tools, innovative human capital and industrial green and low-carbon transformation

Innovative human capital is a key element in achieving the green and low-carbon transformation of industry. Systematically clarifying the role of innovative human capital in promoting industrial green and low-carbon transformation through environmental regulation tools is crucial for achieving the "dual carbon" goals. This paper, based on endogenous growth theory and relevant theories of environmental economics, uses provincial panel data from China's industry from 1997 to 2021 as a sample to empirically examine the impact of environmental regulation tools and innovative human capital on industrial green and low-carbon transformation. The study finds that different types of environmental regulation tools exhibit an inverted "U" -shaped characteristic, with effects initially increasing and then decreasing, or a "U" -shaped characteristic with effects initially decreasing and then increasing; innovative human capital can promote industrial green and low-carbon transformation and also plays a moderating role in the relationship between environmental regulation tools and industrial green and low-carbon transformation, although this moderating effect varies across different regions.