Guided by digitization strategy and “dual carbon” goal, this paper deeply discusses the impact of provincial industrial businesses’ degree of digitization on their carbon emissions, and focuses on analyzing the function of green technology innovation as a mediator between the two. This research methodically analyses the relationship between the degree of digitalization and carbon emissions, as well as the internal mechanisms underlying it, using data from Chinese industrial firms from 2011 to 2021 in conjunction with the two-way fixed effect model and the intermediary effect model. The following are the outcomes: First, the impact of province industrial enterprises digitalization level on carbon emissions presents a nonlinear inverse “U” shape relationship. Second, the degree of digitization has a major indirect effect on industrial companies’ carbon emissions; thus, it is critical to support industrial enterprises’ innovation in green technology. Lastly, there is regional variation in the relationship between the degree of digitalization and carbon emission intensity. This is particularly true in the east, west, and areas with high carbon emission intensity, where digitalization has a greater impact on reducing carbon emissions. Drawing from the aforementioned research findings, several policy recommendations are proposed: hasten the process of building new infrastructure to support the incorporation of digital platforms and technologies, improving industrial sector policies for emission reduction and energy efficiency. Encourage the full integration of innovation in green technologies with digitalization by reallocating resources, catalyzing transformative advancements in sustainable practices. Encourage the equitable distribution of digital resources to central and western regions, ensuring widespread access and promoting environmental conservation and climate improvement on a national scale.