The role of FinTech in carbon emission convergence across Chinese prefecture-level cities

The rise in carbon dioxide emissions poses a significant threat to environmental sustainability. As strategic goals such as "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" advance, and with the evolving landscape of FinTech, the interplay between FinTech and carbon emissions has garnered considerable attention from scholars. This study examines the influence of FinTech on the spatial convergence of carbon emissions across 266 prefectural cities in China from 2011 to 2020. Our findings reveal spatial sigma convergence, as well as absolute beta and conditional beta convergence of carbon emissions, with FinTech exerting a negative impact on the latter, particularly in the eastern regions. Additionally, industrial levels and energy transitions serve as moderating factors in this relationship. These insights provide valuable guidance for policy interventions aimed at addressing the intersection of FinTech and climate change.