Coupling Effects of Land Use Carbon Emissions and Ecological Security in Border Cities of Jilin Province, China

Rapid urbanization has led to a significant increase in land use carbon emission (LCE), putting great pressure on ecological security. The coupling relationship between LCE and the ecological security index (ESI) is the key to sustainable development. Based on land use/cover change (LUCC) and Open-Data Inventory for Anthropogenic Carbon dioxide (ODIAC) data, the LCE of the Jilin Border Cities (JLBCs) from 2013 to 2023 was estimated. Twenty-seven indicators were selected from both natural and socioeconomic aspects to evaluate the ESI using the Driving forces–Pressure–State–Impact–Response–Management (DPSIRM) model. The spatial interaction between LCE and ESI was analyzed using the coupling degree model and spatial autocorrelation. The results show that from 2013 to 2023, the main LCE areas in the JLBCs were concentrated in central urban districts, while the total LCE remained negative but exhibited a clear upward trend. The ESIs in Tonghua City and Baishan City have continued to improve, but those in Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture have gradually deteriorated, with ecological security warnings intensifying progressively toward the east. The spatial variation in the LCE–ESI coupling degree is significant, predominantly exhibiting low coupling with differences across scales. Within the study area, coupling degree shows a strong positive correlation, revealing distinct spatial clustering patterns dominated by low clusters and cold spots. Future efforts should focus on promoting low-carbon development models, strengthening protection and restoration, while implementing targeted measures to enhance the overall ecology of JLBCs.