Industrial intelligence and marine pollution in coastal cities: A Chinese city-level study

Abstract

Industrial intelligence has greatly propelled industrial development, while having a profound impact on the environment. This study, using data from 48 coastal cities in China and their local enterprises, employs a two-way fixed effects model to examine the impact and mechanisms of industrial intelligence on marine pollution. By integrating macro-level city data and micro-level enterprise data, this study innovatively reveals an inverted U-shaped relationship between industrial intelligence levels in coastal cities and marine pollution, which is primarily mediated by industrial energy optimization and economic development. Initially, more industrial intelligence may increase pollution, but after a certain point, it can help reduce it. Additionally, urban innovation capacity and environmental regulatory intensity play crucial roles in modulating this relationship, particularly through the adoption of clean technologies and enhanced pollution standards. Compared to previous studies, this paper firstly unveils the nonlinear relationship between industrial intelligence levels and marine pollution, as well as the specific mechanisms behind it, filling a gap in the existing literature. These findings provide compelling empirical evidence and policy insights for sustainable coastal management in developing economies, emphasizing the synergistic relationship between industrial intelligence and environmental protection, which offers empirical or theoretical support for achieving green transformation.