Study on the impact of green digital finance on low-carbon transition of energy consumption structure under multidimensional perspective-empirical evidence from China

Green digital finance plays a crucial role in driving green production, consumption and facilitating the low-carbon transition of energy consumption structures. This paper delves into the impact of green digital finance on this transformation from a multidimensional perspective for the first time. The study reveals that developing green digital finance effectively elevates the level of carbon reduction in energy consumption structures. Both industrial restructuring and innovation in green, low-carbon technologies play significant conduit roles in advancing the low-carbon transformation of energy consumption structures through green digital finance, with a mutually reinforcing relationship between them. Formal environmental regulations act as positive regulators, influencing the strategic choices of innovation entities in green, low-carbon technology innovation. Green digital finance exhibits heterogeneous effects on the low-carbon transformation of energy consumption structures due to factors such as geographical location, financial regulatory intensity, informal environmental regulations, marketization, and resource endowment. The conclusions of this paper hold substantial significance and practical reference value for China's ongoing efforts to advance the construction of a new energy system and high-quality energy development.