Under the background of the carbon cap and trading mechanism, the shipping logistics service supply chain faces pressure to reduce carbon emissions, and artificial intelligence technology provides a new technological path for emission reduction. In the context of a carbon cap-and-trade system, this study examines a shipping logistics service supply chain comprising a service provider and a service integrator, where the provider adopts AI technologies for direct emission reduction and the integrator contributes indirectly. It investigates optimal decision-making under two models: a single emission-reduction model (only provider uses AI) and a joint-emission-reduction model (both adopt AI), while also exploring one-way and two-way cost-sharing contracts between them. The study establishes these models to analyze the impact of cost-sharing contracts on emission reduction levels, total service volume, and profits, and further examines how government regulation of carbon trading prices can promote reduction. Findings reveal that cost-sharing contracts effectively enhance emission reduction, output, and member benefits; one-way contracts are conducive to operations, while two-way contracts are effective only within a small cost-sharing ratio range. The joint model outperforms the single model under specific parameter thresholds, and cost-sharing ratios influence decentralized versus centralized decision-making. Government carbon price regulation can encourage reduction but must consider its effects on low-carbon logistics volume and profits.
Zhang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.