Collaborative strategies for inter-city low-carbon development: integrating cross-game and system dynamics approaches

Inter-city carbon management requires addressing complex inter-regional dynamics to foster sustainable, low-carbon futures. This study introduces a cross-game framework—an integrated game structure that incorporates both horizontal interactions (between governments or between enterprises) and vertical interactions (between governments and enterprises) within the inter-city carbon emission system. By integrating cross-game dynamics and system dynamics modeling, we simulate carbon emissions evolution, using the Chengdu-Chongqing region—a key carbon-emitting area in China—as a case study. Our findings suggest that traditional corporate self-regulation and government oversight alone are insufficient for achieving low-carbon goals. Instead, achieving a balanced, low-carbon future requires adaptive, cooperative strategies that reflect the unique capacities of each city. Specifically, Chongqing’s government shows relatively lower efficiency in reaching equilibrium compared to Chengdu’s, though its companies exhibit higher flexibility. Cross-regional order shifting profoundly influence inter-regional strategic decisions, contrasting with the limited influence of free-rider benefits. Furthermore, regional government and corporate actions exert weaker, sometimes inverse, effects on other regions. This cross-game model deepens understanding of interactions among carbon-emission agents and offers insights for future strategies to support sustainable, low-carbon collaboration in city clusters.