The mitigation effect of industrial robots on air pollution

摘要

Industrial robots, as a key technological innovation in advanced manufacturing, play a vital role in advancing the green transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry. This study examines the impact of industrial robot adoption on urban air pollution using panel data from 280 Chinese cities spanning 2011 to 2019. The findings indicate that the adoption of industrial robots significantly reduces urban air pollution, with robustness validated through Bartik instrumental variables and propensity score matching. The analysis further identifies two primary pathways through which industrial robots reduce pollutant emissions: the energy reduction effect and the enhancement of green innovation. Moreover, the environmental benefits of industrial robots vary across cities, with significant differences observed based on regional location, city size, and government performance pressures. This research provides empirical evidence for the role of industrial robotics in promoting sustainable development, offering actionable insights for policymakers to design targeted strategies that integrate industrial automation with environmental and economic objectives.