From policy fragmentation to coordinated action: re-engineering local governance for smart city development and carbon targets

Achieving sustainable urban development requires overcoming policy fragmentation and departmental separation through more integrated governance arrangements. However, smart city and carbon neutrality initiatives are often managed by different administrative units, limiting policy coherence and cross-sectoral coordination. This study examines how local governments can integrate these two agendas within a unified governance framework. Using a qualitative case study of a local government in China, this study analyzes the strategic deployment of digital infrastructure, the restructuring of interdepartmental coordination platforms, and the use of digital tools in low-carbon service delivery. The findings show that effective integration depends on three interrelated mechanisms: the institutionalization of high-level digital data governance, the establishment of formal interdepartmental mechanisms for policy alignment, and the application of digital technologies to improve the efficiency of low-carbon public services. Together, these mechanisms create a synergistic pathway through which smart city development can directly support carbon reduction goals. By identifying the institutional and technological foundations of this dual integration, the study extends existing research beyond descriptive accounts of collaboration and provides practical insights into how local governments can use digital transformation to reduce governance silos and accelerate sustainable low-carbon urban transitions.