In this hybrid research seminar on Thursday 14th November 2024 at 12:00-13:00 CET, Edward Cruickshank (University of Milan, Italy) will present his research titled "The impact of the 'Twin Transition' on GHG emissions: a firm level analysis".
Abstract:
Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to sustain economic growth, “green” and “digital” technologies have become pivotal to contemporary innovation strategies. This study investigates the impact of firm-level innovation in green, digital, and combined green-digital technologies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, offering empirical insights into the role of these “twin transition” technologies in decarbonization efforts.
The analysis leverages a rich and novel dataset (spanning from 2015 to 2022) combining environmental data from CDP’s Full GHG Emissions Dataset, patent records from ORBIS IP, and firm-level financial data from ORBIS. Focusing on firms whose Scope 1 and 2 emissions account for nearly 45% of annual global GHG emissions, this analysis contributes to the literature by offering a firm-level perspective on the environmental impact of twin transition technologies, a level of granularity largely absent in current research.
Preliminary findings of the panel model indicate that green technology patents are associated with reduced emissions intensity, particularly in the manufacturing and energy sectors. Conversely, the impact of digital technologies on emissions is more ambiguous, which is consistent with previous literature that highlights, on the one hand, their potential to enhance environmental efficiency and, on the other, their high energy consumption. These results underscore the nuanced relationship between green and digital innovations and offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to advance sustainable development through targeted support for innovation.
The Zoom link to join the seminar online can be found here. This event is open to the public. All who are interested in this topic are very welcome to join the seminar. After the presentation, there will be time for questions and discussion.
For any queries related to our UNU-MERIT Seminar Series, please contact Sneha Marydas and Cecilia Seri by sending an email to seminars@merit.unu.edu
