Digital technology innovation and synergy of pollution control and carbon reduction: empirical evidence from digital patents in Chinese cities

Digital technology innovation (DTI) performs a critical role of attaining the synergy of pollution control and carbon reduction (PCCR). This study utilizes digital patents to measure DTI, and investigates the DTI’s PCCR effect based on panel data of 281 Chinese cities during 2006–2021. The result demonstrates that DTI can substantially promote the synergy of PCCR, especially in the central and western regions, low-grade cities, and resource-based cities. Additionally, this study reveals two mechanisms by which DTI promotes the synergy of PCCR: promoting tertiary industry agglomeration and fostering entrepreneurship. Simultaneously, we also conduct moderating mechanism analyses, finding that the higher the marketization degree, the better DTI can play its positive role in PCCR. These findings provide useful insights into promoting sustainable development and achieving synergistic efficiency of PCCR through DTI in the digital economy era.