Research on the impact of the establishment of national big data comprehensive pilot zone on the green and low-carbon development of cities

Big data, as a core production factor of the digital economy, provides critical support for urban green and low-carbon development. The National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zones, as a key strategic initiative for China’s digital economic development, offer policy insights into sustainable pathways for achieving coordinated growth between economic expansion and green innovation. This study utilizes panel data from 280 prefecture-level cities in China between 2010 and 2022, employing the establishment of national big data pilot zones as a quasi-natural experiment and a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model to systematically evaluate the policy’s impact on urban green and low-carbon development. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between the establishment of pilot zones and improvements in urban green and low-carbon development, a conclusion that remains robust after rigorous testing. Mechanism analysis indicates that pilot zone establishment enhances urban green and low-carbon development by improving energy efficiency, fostering green technological innovation, and accelerating the aggregation of scientific and technological talent. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that pilot zone establishment exerts a more pronounced promoting effect on green and low-carbon development in resource-dependent cities, old industrial bases, and cities with advanced digital infrastructure. This study provides empirical evidence for the role of national big data pilot zones in advancing green and low-carbon development, offering practical support and policy implications for the comprehensive implementation of the national big data strategy and the achievement of the “dual carbon” goals.