Existing research primarily focuses on analyzing the impact of the digital economy on the total, intensity, and efficiency of regional carbon emissions, with limited literature exploring the influence of industrial digitization on its complete carbon emission intensity. In order to address these research gaps and enrich the relevant literature, this study empirically examines the causal relationship between industrial digitization and its complete carbon emission intensity based on WIOD and WDI cross-border panel data. The findings of this research are as follows: Firstly, industrial digitization can actively reduce its complete carbon emission intensity. This conclusion remains valid after conducting robustness tests, such as substituting explanatory and dependent variables, incorporating control variables, and considering endogeneity. Secondly, industrial digitization reduces both the total and intensity of complete carbon emissions by reducing intermediate investments, promoting the decoupling of industrial growth and carbon emissions. Thirdly, digitization can decrease the complete carbon emission intensity in various sectors, including agriculture, crop and animal husbandry, forestry, manufacturing, transportation (including land, pipeline, and air transportation), warehousing and transportation support activities, postal and courier activities, as well as mining, in North American and European countries, and developed economies. However, there is no significant impact on the complete carbon emission intensity in industries such as fisheries, water transportation, the water industry, construction industry, and the accommodation and catering industry in East Asian countries and underdeveloped economies. Additionally, digitalization has a significant inhibitory effect on the intensity of complete carbon emissions in highly digital industries.