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Global urban expansion offsets climate-driven increases in terrestrial net primary productivity

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoping Liu

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Fengsong Pei

    (Jiangsu Normal University)

  • Youyue Wen

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Xia Li

    (Sun Yat-sen University
    East China Normal University)

  • Shaojian Wang

    (Sun Yat-sen University
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Changjiang Wu

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Yiling Cai

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Jianguo Wu

    (Arizona State University)

  • Jun Chen

    (National Geomatics Center of China)

  • Kuishuang Feng

    (University of Maryland)

  • Junguo Liu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Klaus Hubacek

    (Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG)
    Masaryk University
    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

  • Steven J. Davis

    (University of California)

  • Wenping Yuan

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Le Yu

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Zhu Liu

    (Tsinghua University)

Abstract

The global urbanization rate is accelerating; however, data limitations have far prevented robust estimations of either global urban expansion or its effects on terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP). Here, using a high resolution dataset of global land use/cover (GlobeLand30), we show that global urban areas expanded by an average of 5694 km2 per year between 2000 and 2010. The rapid urban expansion in the past decade has in turn reduced global terrestrial NPP, with a net loss of 22.4 Tg Carbon per year (Tg C year−1). Although small compared to total terrestrial NPP and fossil fuel carbon emissions worldwide, the urbanization-induced decrease in NPP offset 30% of the climate-driven increase (73.6 Tg C year−1) over the same period. Our findings highlight the urgent need for global strategies to address urban expansion, enhance natural carbon sinks, and increase agricultural productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoping Liu & Fengsong Pei & Youyue Wen & Xia Li & Shaojian Wang & Changjiang Wu & Yiling Cai & Jianguo Wu & Jun Chen & Kuishuang Feng & Junguo Liu & Klaus Hubacek & Steven J. Davis & Wenping Yuan & , 2019. "Global urban expansion offsets climate-driven increases in terrestrial net primary productivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13462-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13462-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Xin & Wang, Ping & Song, Hang & Zeng, Xiaoying, 2021. "Determinants of net primary productivity: Low-carbon development from the perspective of carbon sequestration," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    2. Shengbiao Wu & Bin Chen & Chris Webster & Bing Xu & Peng Gong, 2023. "Improved human greenspace exposure equality during 21st century urbanization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Chen, Wanxu & Chi, Guangqing, 2022. "Urbanization and ecosystem services: The multi-scale spatial spillover effects and spatial variations," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    4. Zutao Ouyang & Pietro Sciusco & Tong Jiao & Sarah Feron & Cheyenne Lei & Fei Li & Ranjeet John & Peilei Fan & Xia Li & Christopher A. Williams & Guangzhao Chen & Chenghao Wang & Jiquan Chen, 2022. "Albedo changes caused by future urbanization contribute to global warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Xingbo Yin, 2022. "The influence of urbanization on vegetation carbon pools under a tele-coupling framework in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4046-4063, March.
    6. Kukkonen, M.O. & Khamis, M. & Muhammad, M.J. & Käyhkö, N. & Luoto, M., 2022. "Modeling direct above-ground carbon loss due to urban expansion in Zanzibar City Region, Tanzania," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    7. Zhou, Yang & Zhong, Zhen & Cheng, Guoqiang, 2023. "Cultivated land loss and construction land expansion in China: Evidence from national land surveys in 1996, 2009 and 2019," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    8. Thomas Bastiaensen & Ewaut Van Wambeke & Camelia El Bakkali & Jomme Desair & Charlotte Noël & Kaat Kenis & Lukas Vincke & Sander Jacobs, 2023. "Beyond Biodiversity: Eliciting Diverse Values of Urban Green Spaces in Flanders," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, June.

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