Adhering to systems thinking to promote the digital economy and carbon emission reduction-a provincial-level study in China

Achieving the "dual-carbon" goal is essential for deepening ecological civilization and a critical pathway to economic development. Utilizing provincial-level data (2012-2021) and constructs a mediation effect model to explore how digital economy influences carbon emissions. The findings indicate that the rapid expansion of digital economy reduces carbon emissions, and this finding has been verified by multiple robustness checks. Further analysis of the underlying mechanisms reveals that this effect operates through reduced energy intensity and increased FDI. In addition, the impact varies by region and scale, with more pronounced impacts in the eastern regions and provinces with larger populations. These findings provide valuable implications for fostering the integrated advancement between digital economy growth and carbon reduction efforts.