Technological Transformation of Environmental Governance: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China

As environmental governance becomes a central issue of global concern, how to use emerging technologies to improve government environmental performance has become an important area of research. This study examines the impact of the establishment of China’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Pilot Zones on local government environmental performance, with a focus on the key role of government in environmental governance. Based on data from three batches of AI innovation pilot zones between 2019 and 2021, we find that AI pilot zones significantly enhance local government environmental performance by promoting green innovation and strengthening environmental regulations. However, higher fiscal autonomy to some extent weakens the actual effectiveness of environmental policies, while leaders with higher education levels are more effective in implementing environmental policies. This study expands the understanding of technology-driven environmental governance and provides new theoretical perspectives for environmental policy in emerging economies, offering empirical support for the role of technology in empowering public governance.