Regional Sustainability >

2026 , Vol. 7 >Issue 3: 100349

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsus.2026.100349

Research article

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

  • DU Mengbing ,
  • ZHANG Caijing ,
  • QIU Ning ,
  • ZHANG Zhe ,
  • LI Wen ,
  • SHAN Wanyue ,
  • ZHANG Li
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  • aSchool of Political Science & Public Administration, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
    bSchool of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, 250101, China
    cCenter for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, China
    dDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
    eSchool of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
The first three authors contributed equally to this work.
*E-mail address: zhangli_1122@outlook.com (ZHANG Li).

Received date: 2025-03-26

  Revised date: 2026-01-05

  Accepted date: 2026-04-30

  Online published: 2026-05-22

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Abstract

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.

Key words： Broadband China Policy (BCP); Carbon inequality (CI); Carbon emissions; Industrial structure upgrading; Technological innovation; Difference-in-differences (DID); Digital infrastructure development

Cite this article

DU Mengbing , ZHANG Caijing , QIU Ning , ZHANG Zhe , LI Wen , SHAN Wanyue , ZHANG Li . Broadband China Policy can alleviate city-level carbon inequality in China[J]. Regional Sustainability, 2026 , 7(3) : 100349 . DOI: 10.1016/j.regsus.2026.100349

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