Against the background of the booming expansion of the global digital economy and increasing emphasis on reducing CO2 emissions

this study from the perspective of the transformation of the digital economy applies the generalized Divisia index method to measure the contribution of the driving factors to CO2 emissions in China. From 2007 to 2022

the country’s CO2 emissions increased cumulatively

with a change rate of 80.85%. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions factor became the main drivers contributing to CO2 emissions

with contribution rates of 40.23% and 50.43%

respectively. Meanwhile

the digital economy’s carbon intensity made a negative contribution to CO2 emissions

with a contribution rate of −9.01%

which shows that the expansion of the digital economy is advantageous for lowering CO2 emissions

and this is also verified in the later analysis. In addition

the amount of CO2 emissions changes varies during different periods such as the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans

which is inseparable from realistic factors such as the stage of the digital economy development and the strength of policy support. This study puts forward appropriate policy recommendations

such as vigorously enhancing digital industrialization

continuously enhancing the degree of industrial digitization

and enhancing investment in the field of digital economy.