Made in China 2025 and carbon emission performance

(1) The "Made in China 2025" policy significantly improves urban carbon emission performance, a conclusion robust to multiple tests; (2) Mechanism analysis highlights three pathways: promoting green technology innovation, rationalizing industrial structures, and curbing energy consumption; (3) Heterogeneity analysis indicates stronger policy effects in eastern/central regions, central cities, and environmental priority protection zones. This research enriches the literature on industrial policy innovation and carbon emission governance, offering actionable insights for synergizing emission reduction and economic development in China.