Advancing Inclusive Urban Energy Sustainable Development Through Supply Chain Digitization

ABSTRACT Achieving sustainable and inclusive energy systems is a key objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study examines the impact of supply chain digitization (SCD) on inclusive urban energy development. Using China's Supply Chain Innovation and Application Pilot Policy (SCIAPP) as a quasi‐natural experiment, we employ a difference‐in‐differences method with city‐level panel data from 2007 to 2022 to identify the causal effects of SCD on equity‐oriented energy outcomes. The results show that SCD significantly promotes inclusive energy development, and the findings remain robust after placebo tests, propensity score matching difference‐in‐differences (PSM‐DID) estimations, and controls for concurrent policy shocks. Mechanism analysis indicates that SCD enhances inclusiveness by expanding energy accessibility, promoting renewable energy integration, and reducing systemic energy losses. Heterogeneity analysis further reveals stronger effects in small and medium‐sized cities, while administrative centrality tends to weaken the policy impact. The results provide the evidence on the role of digital supply chains in supporting sustainable and inclusive urban energy transitions and offer policy‐relevant insights for achieving equitable energy development.