How Does Digital Intelligence Transformation Reshape Carbon Emission Efficiency in Resource-Based Cities?

Resource-based cities face persistent challenges in reconciling economic growth with the transition to low-carbon development. This tension poses significant obstacles to sustainable regional development. Digital intelligence transformation (DIT) refers to the deep integration of digitalization and intelligent technologies. It offers a new pathway to enhance urban sustainability. Using panel data from 110 Chinese resource-based cities from 2013 to 2022, this study examines the impact of DIT on carbon emission efficiency (CEE). A comprehensive DIT index is constructed, and the SBM-GML approach is applied to measure CEE. A two-way fixed-effects model is employed to estimate the impact of DIT on CEE. The results show that DIT significantly improves CEE. A one–standard-deviation increase in DIT is associated with a 0.033 rise in CEE, which equals 3.96% of the sample mean. Mechanism analysis indicates that this effect is closely linked to lower resource misallocation and stronger green technological innovation. Heterogeneity analysis further suggests that DIT has a stronger impact in cities with advanced green finance, better digital infrastructure, and those at mature or regenerative development stages. Overall, the findings provide robust empirical evidence that digital intelligence technologies can serve as an effective driver of sustainable development in resource-based cities.