Transport infrastructure plays a crucial role in facilitating the high-quality development of new urbanization. Based on the provincial panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2020, this study empirically analyzed the impact and mechanism of transportation infrastructure on the high-quality development of new urbanization from multiple perspectives. The results showed that transportation infrastructure can significantly promote the development of new urbanization, and the promoting effect was significantly positive in the eastern and western regions, while it was positive but not significant in the central region. Transportation infrastructure can promote the development of new urbanization by promoting industrial agglomeration. When the population density is lower than the corresponding threshold value, the transport infrastructure can significantly promote the development of new urbanization; when the population density is higher than the corresponding threshold value, the transport infrastructure will significantly hinder the development of new urbanization. Transport infrastructure has a significant positive spatial spillover effect on the development of new urbanization, and the positive spatial spillover effect has been significant in the eastern, central and western regions.

As the world transitions into the post-pandemic era, ports in various countries are experiencing increased activity, leading to significant challenges in ensuring traffic safety within port jurisdictions. It is essential to explore methods to improve port security resilience to maintain regular economic and trade exchanges. This article examines the influence of digital development on port security resilience. Firstly, the provincial digital development level score is objectively evaluated from the perspective of digital infrastructure, digital application, and digital industry development. Secondly, the port safety resilience score is assessed considering water traffic safety, rescue and recovery capabilities, and operational efficiency. Lastly, the focus is on 16 provinces in China’s coastal and Yangtze River Economic Belt, establishing provincial panel data from 2010 to 2019, and empirically analyzing the direct impact of digital development on the resilience of port security. The results indicate that digital development enhances the resilience of port security, with significant heterogeneity and long-term effects observed.

Transportation infrastructure plays a crucial role in economic development and significantly influences climate change, providing direct and indirect benefits towards the attainment of Goals 8 and 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the impact of railway infrastructure on the level of economic and environmental coordination development in the Chengdu–Chongqing economic circle, using panel data from 16 cities spanning from 2010 to 2020. The analysis employs a coupled coordination degree model and a panel fixed effects model. The findings reveal a gradual increase in the level of economic and environmental coordination development in each city during the study period. Notably, Chongqing and Chengdu exhibit significantly higher levels compared to other cities. Railway infrastructure construction can significantly promote the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment. In areas with a high level of coordinated development of the economy and environment, the promoting effect is relatively small, while in areas with a low level of coordinated development of the economy and environment, the promoting effect is relatively large. Over the long term, railways continue to significantly promote the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment. The construction of railways can stimulate the development of the urban private economy and marketization, thereby facilitating the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment.

This paper aims to clarify the intricate relationships between technological innovation, transportation industry development, and CO₂ emissions to facilitate a positive synergy among technology, the economy, and climate, advancing the fulfillment of the ‘double carbon’ goal. Utilizing panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2020, we employ the panel vector autoregressive model using a generalized method of moments to empirically examine the dynamic interactive effects between these participants. The findings reveal that the transportation industry significantly promoted the inhibitory impact of technological innovation on CO₂ emissions. However, such reductions cannot counterbalance the rise in emissions from the transportation industry. Moreover, its effects varied significantly across regions. Specifically, transportation industry development within eastern China contributed to a shift in the local carbon emission effects from positive to negative under the positive influence of technological innovation. In the northeast, the transportation industry enhanced the inhibitory effect of technological innovation on CO₂ emissions. In contrast, across the western region, industrial development in transportation intensified the role of technological innovation in promoting CO₂ emissions. Furthermore, this work found that CO₂ emissions notably diminished the CO₂ reduction performance of technological innovation in the eastern part and enhanced this performance in the northeastern region. These findings further revealed the complex interplay between technological innovation, the transportation industry, and CO₂ emissions. They offer insights for policymakers to tailor region-specific technologies to bolster the ‘dual carbon’ goal and sustainable transportation development strategies, thereby achieving CO₂ reduction.