# The Non-Linear Impact of Industry 4.0 on Carbon Emissions in China's Logistics Sector
## 3 Results
### Regional Variations  
Additionally, this study indicated that the country-level effects of Industry 4.0 technologies on CO2 emissions are different across different parts of the country. Industry 4.0 technologies, being leveraged in the economically developed eastern provinces first, with advanced infrastructure, further demonstrated more promising results in a carburetion rate comparison [21]. These regions have experienced relatively faster economic growth, and this is credited to their vast uptake of Industry 4.0 enabling technologies that are fully integrated and supported by a more educated workforce and considerable investment. In contradistinction to the previous one, where the eastern region shows more significant emissions for a cause that no other region could experience (higher development, education, and Industry 4.0 usage), here, the central and western provinces that are lagging and have lower technologies show less decrement in CO2 emissions. On the other hand, underdeveloped regions, which are characterized by weak infrastructures, slow industrial and digitalization rates, and small access to finance, may witness a reverse situation of anticipated environmental benefits from Industry 4.0. The empirical evidence from this study showed that it is very crucial and effective to target differences between regions by developing specific policies that can assist in stimulating propensities and acceptance of Industry 4.0 technologies in less developed regions [22]. The above-mentioned results indicate that the difference between various regions should be a major factor to be considered when formulating public policy for Industry 4.0 and its associated impacts [23] (Figure 3). Different formulas, their output of which is probably affected by the various challenges and benefits of Industry 4.0 in each region, are required to guarantee that environmental advantages are maximized and China meets its wider carbon reduction goals (Table 4) (Figure 4). Figure 3: Regional Distribution of Industry 4.0 Adoption (2019). Explanation: This pie chart illustrates the regional distribution of Industry 4.0 adoption across China in 2019. The eastern region had the highest adoption rate, accounting for 55%, followed by the central region at 35%, and the western region at 25%. This highlights the uneven development of Industry 4.0 technologies across different regions, with the eastern region leading in technological adoption (Figure 3). This study also highlighted significant regional variations in the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on carbon emissions. In eastern provinces, where infrastructure and technological readiness are higher, the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies has led to a marked decrease in emissions. Conversely, central and western regions, characterized by slower technological adoption and lower infrastructure development, have not experienced the same level of environmental benefits. This suggests that targeted policies are needed to promote the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in these underdeveloped regions to achieve more balanced environmental outcomes across the country.