Does Policy Synergy Improve Ecological Resilience? Evidence from Smart City and Low-Carbon Pilots in China

Pilot policies are key determinants of urban ecological resilience, while the corresponding results are inconsistent. Moreover, existing research on the synergistic effects of policies on ecological resilience remains insufficient. Thus, this study selects low-carbon pilot policies and smart city pilot policies to explore the possible channels through which they affect ecological resilience. Consequently, using the sample data of China’s prefecture-level cities during the period of 2005–2022, we employ a multi-period difference-in-differences approach and two-step regression to examine the relationship between dual pilot policies and ecological resilience. We find that dual pilot policies have a significant positive impact on ecological resilience, and the conclusion is still held after a series of robustness tests. We also find that regional and population size heterogeneity effects exist. Furthermore, the sequences of pilots significantly influence ecological resilience, where the sequence of implementing low-carbon pilot programs earlier than smart city pilot programs has a greater impact on ecological resilience. Finally, the dual pilot policies enhance ecological resilience through channels of technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading. Overall, this study reveals the relationship between policies and ecological resilience, providing policy insights for building resilient cities.