The impact of digital infrastructure on air quality: Mediating role of public environmental attention and industrial development

The digital economy has significantly enhanced economic quality, and studying its implications on the environment can provide empirical support for policies that foster environment-economy coordination. This paper examines the impact of digital infrastructure on air quality, focusing on the mechanisms of public environmental attention and industrial development. It further analyzes heterogeneity in urban locations, degree of urbanization, and environmental regulation intensity. By examining the transmission mechanism of digital infrastructure on urban air quality from both macro and micro perspectives, the study finds that the "Broadband China" policy is projected to reduce the AQI by 50.34% in Chinese cities compared to non demonstration cities. This improvement is partially attributed to the indirect effect of the policy on public environmental attention and industrial development. Moreover, the impact is more pronounced in eastern, central, and urban areas. Based on these findings, the study aims to provide empirical evidence on how the digital economy enhances environmental quality from a micro-awareness level and offer policy recommendations for better air quality. •The impact of digital infrastructure on air quality are examined.•The "Broadband China" policy reduces the AQI by 50.34% in Chinese cities.•The impact is more pronounced in eastern, central, and urban areas.•Public environmental attention and industrial development play a mediating effect.•Evidence shows how the digital economy enhances air quality at a micro level.