Technological progress is vital for China to reduce carbon emissions. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between intellectual property (IPR) protection and city carbon emissions can better serve China achieve carbon peak and carbon neutral goals. This study focuses on exploring the spatial effects of IPR protection on city-level carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through research and development (R&D) investment, foreign direct investment (FDI) technology spillover, and intercity technology spillover (DS). This work developed an extended Environmental Kuznets Curve model to investigate the influencing mechanism of IPR protection using the geographical weighted regression Kriging method. Our study period covered 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017. We identified spatial correlation characteristics in various cities and found that the impact of IPR protection on carbon emissions through R&D investment showed a trend of decreasing first and then increasing. IPR protection through DS had a significant impact of inhibiting CO2 emissions. The impact of IPR protection on carbon emissions through FDI showed a trend of fluctuating up and down. Space coordination in IPR protection, technology convergence between cities, infrastructure construction, and a strict negative list of foreign investment all contributed to city carbon-emission reduction.
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