<p>Coordinating economic growth with environmental protection has become a key challenge in public economics. This study introduces a novel perspective by examining the impact of new-type infrastructure (NTI) on regional carbon emission reduction through the lens of peer effects. Leveraging the quasi-natural experiment of the “Broadband China” pilot, the research demonstrates that NTIs significantly reduce carbon emissions. A key finding is that avoidant imitation pressure—where local governments align with regional averages to avoid risks—has a stronger impact on carbon reduction than competitive pressure. This suggests that NTIs enable local governments to navigate trade-offs between economic development and environmental objectives more effectively. This study also uncovers how political leadership dynamics, such as age, tenure, and turnover of municipal CPC secretaries and mayors, shape NTIs’ effectiveness. By integrating peer effects into the analysis of infrastructure-driven carbon reduction, the research introduces a new framework for environmental governance. It also provides micro-level evidence of competitive imitation and avoidant imitation behaviors among local governments, offering fresh insights into the subtle dynamics that influence policy implementation and environmental performance.</p>