IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i17p8048-d1744049.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Regional Differences in Carbon Emission Intensity of Land Uses in China

Author

Listed:
  • Ming Zhang

    (China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China
    China State Civil Engineering Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China
    China State Construction International Holdings Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Changhong Cai

    (College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
    State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Jun Guan

    (China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China
    China State Civil Engineering Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China
    China State Construction International Holdings Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Jing Cheng

    (College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
    State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Changqing Chen

    (China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China
    China State Civil Engineering Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China
    China State Construction International Holdings Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Yani Lai

    (College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
    State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Xiangsheng Chen

    (College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
    State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

Abstract

In recent years, the frequent occurrence of extreme weather events has prompted increased global attention to greenhouse gas emissions. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution of carbon emission intensity (CEI) across land use types in China’s 30 provinces from 2009 to 2022. Based on the data from China Rural Statistical Yearbook, China City Statistical Yearbook, China Energy Statistical Yearbook, China Natural Resources Statistical Yearbook, and China Statistical Yearbook, this study aims to reveal the spatio-temporal differentiation patterns of CEI, analyze the decoupling status between development mode and carbon emissions, and establish a three-dimensional collaborative emission reduction framework. Firstly, employing the carbon emission factor method, provincial carbon emissions, sinks, and net emissions are calculated, with intensity levels derived from gross domestic product (GDP). Secondly, spatio-temporal trends and inter-provincial disparities are analyzed using the decoupling index. The spatial effects among the provinces are investigated based on Moran’s I index. The results show that while the overall CEI has declined since 2009, significant regional disparities persist, with the southern provinces showing lower carbon emission intensities compared to the northern and western regions. The spatial analysis reveals a strong aggregation effect, with provinces clustering into high-high (HH) and low-low (LL) regions regarding CEI. This study concludes with policy recommendations for emission reduction and climate change mitigation, emphasizing industrial structure adjustment, enhanced regional coordination, and optimized land use planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Ming Zhang & Changhong Cai & Jun Guan & Jing Cheng & Changqing Chen & Yani Lai & Xiangsheng Chen, 2025. "Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Regional Differences in Carbon Emission Intensity of Land Uses in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-26, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:8048-:d:1744049
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/8048/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/8048/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li, Long & Huang, Xianjin & Yang, Hong, 2023. "Optimizing land use patterns to improve the contribution of land use planning to carbon neutrality target," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    2. Guiliang Tian & Suwan Yu & Zheng Wu & Qing Xia, 2022. "Study on the Emission Reduction Effect and Spatial Difference of Carbon Emission Trading Policy in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Ting Zhang & Longqian Chen & Ziqi Yu & Jinyu Zang & Long Li, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics of Carbon Emissions from Industrial Land in Anhui Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Guofeng Wang & Maolin Liao & Jie Jiang, 2020. "Research on Agricultural Carbon Emissions and Regional Carbon Emissions Reduction Strategies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Mingjie Tian & Zhun Chen & Wei Wang & Taizheng Chen & Haiying Cui, 2022. "Land-Use Carbon Emissions in the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2020: Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Driving Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Zhang, Yue-Jun & Hao, Jun-Fang & Song, Juan, 2016. "The CO2 emission efficiency, reduction potential and spatial clustering in China’s industry: Evidence from the regional level," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 213-223.
    7. Haijiang Chen & Hong-Wai Ho & Chunli Ji & Haoqing Zheng & Songlin Zhang, 2024. "Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of agricultural land transfer in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(9), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Li, Huanan & Mu, Hailin & Zhang, Ming & Li, Nan, 2011. "Analysis on influence factors of China's CO2 emissions based on Path–STIRPAT model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 6906-6911.
    9. Huihui Wang & Yingyan He & Wanyang Shi & Weihua Zeng & Yifeng He, 2024. "Spatiotemporal spillover effect and efficiency of carbon emissions from land use in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 8915-8953, April.
    10. Li, Yaowang & Yang, Xuxin & Du, Ershun & Liu, Yuliang & Zhang, Shixu & Yang, Chen & Zhang, Ning & Liu, Chang, 2024. "A review on carbon emission accounting approaches for the electricity power industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    11. Wang, Feng & Sun, Xiaoyu & Reiner, David M. & Wu, Min, 2020. "Changing trends of the elasticity of China's carbon emission intensity to industry structure and energy efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yulan Lv & Yumeng Pang & Buhari Doğan, 2022. "The role of Chinese fiscal decentralization in the governance of carbon emissions: perspectives from spatial effects decomposition and its heterogeneity," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(3), pages 635-668, June.
    2. Chen, Huadun & Du, Qianxi & Huo, Tengfei & Liu, Peiran & Cai, Weiguang & Liu, Bingsheng, 2023. "Spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanism of carbon emissions in China's urban residential building sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    3. Shi, Changfeng & Zhi, Jiaqi & Yao, Xiao & Zhang, Hong & Yu, Yue & Zeng, Qingshun & Li, Luji & Zhang, Yuxi, 2023. "How can China achieve the 2030 carbon peak goal—a crossover analysis based on low-carbon economics and deep learning," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. Qian, Yuan & Scherer, Laura & Tukker, Arnold & Behrens, Paul, 2020. "China's potential SO2 emissions from coal by 2050," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    5. Xu, Xiaojing & Xu, Runguo, 2023. "Role of green financing and stability in the development of green resources in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    6. Xiao, Huijuan & Wang, Daoping & Qi, Yu & Shao, Shuai & Zhou, Ya & Shan, Yuli, 2021. "The governance-production nexus of eco-efficiency in Chinese resource-based cities: A two-stage network DEA approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    7. Jiali He & Xiangfei Liu & Xuetong Wang & Xueyang Li & Linger Yu & Beibei Niu, 2024. "Spatiotemporal Evolution of Territorial Spaces and Its Effect on Carbon Emissions in Qingdao City, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-22, October.
    8. Eryu Zhang & Xiaoyu He & Peng Xiao, 2022. "Does Smart City Construction Decrease Urban Carbon Emission Intensity? Evidence from a Difference-in-Difference Estimation in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Hongpeng Guo & Boqun Fan & Chulin Pan, 2021. "Study on Mechanisms Underlying Changes in Agricultural Carbon Emissions: A Case in Jilin Province, China, 1998–2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-17, January.
    10. Waranya Thepsaskul & Wongkot Wongsapai & Tassawan Jaitiang & Panuwich Jaekhajad, 2025. "Prospects of Attaining Thailand’s Carbon Neutrality Target Through Carbon Capture and Storage by Public Power Utility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-21, January.
    11. Wang, Yuan & Zhang, Xiang & Kubota, Jumpei & Zhu, Xiaodong & Lu, Genfa, 2015. "A semi-parametric panel data analysis on the urbanization-carbon emissions nexus for OECD countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 704-709.
    12. Huo, Xiaolin & Jiang, Dayan & Qiu, Zhigang & Yang, Sijie, 2022. "The impacts of dual carbon goals on asset prices in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    13. Feng Zhou & Chunhui Wen, 2023. "Research on the Level of Agricultural Green Development, Regional Disparities, and Dynamic Distribution Evolution in China from the Perspective of Sustainable Development," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-47, July.
    14. Kailun Fang & Suzana Ariff Azizan & Yifei Wu, 2023. "Low-Carbon Community Regeneration in China: A Case Study in Dadong," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.
    15. Shi, Shouyuan & Yu, Tao & Lan, Chaofan & Pan, Zhenning, 2024. "Estimating the actual emission cost in an annual compliance cycle: Synergistic generation and carbon trading optimization for price-taking generation companies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 376(PA).
    16. Xi Zhao & Siqin Zhang & Najid Ahmad & Shuangguo Wang & Jiaxing Zhao, 2024. "Unlocking Sustainable Growth: The Transformative Impact of Green Finance on Industrial Carbon Emissions in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-21, September.
    17. Wang, Peng-Tao & Xu, Qing-Chuang & Wang, Fei-Yin & Xu, Mao, 2025. "Study on the coupling of the iron and steel industry with renewable energy for low-carbon production: A case study of matching steel plants with photovoltaic power plants in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    18. Yuanying Chi & Chenfeng Zhang & Mengwan Zhang & Yanzhao Zhang & Yuxi Wu, 2025. "The Impact of Renewable Energy Subsidy Policies on Indirect Carbon Emissions in the Power System," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 15(4), pages 1-3.
    19. Ge Huang & Wei Pan & Cheng Hu & Wu-Lin Pan & Wan-Qiang Dai, 2021. "Energy Utilization Efficiency of China Considering Carbon Emissions—Based on Provincial Panel Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, January.
    20. Yannan Zhou & Jixia Huang & Mingxiang Huang & Yicheng Lin, 2019. "The Driving Forces of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Emissions Have Spatial Spillover Effects in Inner Mongolia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-14, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:8048-:d:1744049. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.