The synergistic impact of low-carbon and innovative city construction on carbon intensity

Against the backdrop of global climate change and sustainable development, cities, as major sources of carbon emissions, play a pivotal role in achieving carbon neutrality goals. This study examines the synergistic impact of innovative city and low-carbon city pilots on carbon intensity, using panel data from 272 Chinese cities. The findings reveal that low-carbon and innovative city construction (LCICC) significantly reduces carbon intensity, primarily through technological advances, industrial upgrading, and green finance. However, the carbon intensity reduction is only significant in central regions and resource-based cities. Conversely, LCICC significantly increases carbon intensity in cities characterized by lower administrative status and non-resource-dependent economic structures. This study not only enriches the theory of urban transformation and provides new perspectives for carbon reduction research but also offers the first empirical evidence of synergistic emission reduction effects from the simultaneous implementation of innovation and low-carbon city pilots. These findings provide a replicable analytical framework for other developing economies pursuing dual policy pathways toward carbon neutrality.