The heat island effect, digital technology, and urban economic resilience: evidence from China

This study examines the nexus between urban economic resilience and the heat island effect in China. It also scrutinizes the potential mediating role of digital technology and the moderating effects of talent gathering and regional advantage, based on panel data from three metropolitan regions in China for the period 2006–2022. Its findings indicate that urban economic resilience significantly mitigates the heat island effect, digital technology mediates this relationship, and the moderators talent gathering and regional advantage significantly influence this relationship. Additionally, the spatial spillover effects of urban economic resilience on the heat island effect were found to be positive in these regions. Based on the empirical findings, this study offers valuable insights for policymaking, namely, that resilient urban economies are better equipped to adapt to climate change and environmental challenges, which enables them to implement effective mitigation measures for the heat island effect and influence broader regional climate dynamics.