Impact of internet electronic commerce on SO₂ pollution: evidence from China

This paper probes the impact and working mechanism of e-commerce development on prevention and control of SO₂ air pollution in cities in China. The research reveals that, first, e-commerce development can significantly reduce the SO₂ air pollution degree in cities in China, which helps improve air quality, and compared with e-commerce services, an e-commerce application is more effective at reducing SO₂ air pollution degree and improving air quality. Second, e-commerce development can significantly reduce SO₂ emissions in cities in China, decreasing SO₂ emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) of cities. Compared with e-commerce services, an e-commerce application has a greater effect on reducing SO₂ emissions in urban unit GDP. Finally, by reducing SO₂ emissions in cities in China, e-commerce can reduce SO₂ emissions in unit GDP, reducing SO₂ air pollution degree and improving air quality, and in comparison with e-commerce services, an e-commerce application can reduce SO₂ emissions in city unit GDP more significantly, thus significantly reducing SO₂ air pollution degree and improving air quality in cities in China.