Broadband China Policy can alleviate city-level carbon inequality in China

Understanding the role of digital infrastructure development in shaping carbon inequality (CI) is critical for promoting environmental equity in the digital era. While the digital infrastructure has expanded rapidly in China, its environmental implications remain ambiguous. This study investigated the impact of the Broadband China Policy (BCP) on city-level CI using a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) approach with data from 2005 to 2022. Results showed that the implementation of the BCP led to a 7.2% average reduction in CI. This effect operated through two key mechanisms: industrial structure upgrading and technological innovation. While cities in the eastern region reduced CI mainly through upgrading from carbon-intensive secondary industries to less carbon-intensive tertiary sectors, cities in the non-eastern region benefited from enhanced technological innovation. These region-specific pathways underscore the adaptive potential of digital infrastructure in fostering inclusive green development. These findings highlight the role of digitalization as a transformative platform for environmental equity, offering theoretical and policy-relevant insights for designing targeted, region-sensitive strategies that integrate digital and low-carbon transitions.