Fujian　Province　launched　a　talent　recruitment　policy　in　2012　to　integrate　top　university　graduates　into　grassroots　government　roles,　aiming　to　support　green　development.　This　study　investigates　the　impact　of　recruiting　“three-high”　talents—those　who　are　highly　educated,　skilled,　and　specialized—on　reducing　county-level　carbon　emissions.　Using　panel　data　from　134　counties　between　2007　and　2021,　we　apply　a　time-varying　difference-in-differences　model.　Robustness　checks,　including　propensity　score　matching　estimation,　placebo　tests,　and　fixed-effect　controls,　confirm　the　reliability　of　our　results.　We　find　that　the　policy　significantly　reduces　carbon　emission　intensity,　primarily　by　enhancing　green　technological　innovation.　The　effect　is　more　pronounced　in　urban,　economically　developed,　and　non-resource-based　regions,　especially　where　public　awareness　of　green　practices　is　higher.　These　findings　suggest　that　localized　talent　policies　can　play　a　critical　role　in　advancing　low-carbon　development.　Our　results　offer　new　evidence　for　integrating　human　capital　strategies　into　environmental　policy　design　and　highlight　the　importance　of　aligning　recruitment　efforts　with　regional　development　needs　to　support　China’s　carbon　neutrality　goals.　©　2025　by　the　authors.