How Does Land Urbanization Promote CO2 Emissions Reduction? Evidence From Chinese Prefectural-Level Cities

• Published in: Frontiers in environmental science Vol. 9
• Main Authors: Tang, Maogang, Hu, Fengxia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A 14.12.2021
• Subjects: carbon mitigation; China; industrial structure adjustment; land urbanization; land use optimization
• ISSN: 2296-665X; 2296-665X
• DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2021.766839

The process of land urbanization may result in a great change in land use structure, land use intensity, and efficiency, which could further lead to an increase in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. Despite rich literature on the link between urbanization and CO 2 emissions, the mechanism through which land urbanization promotes CO 2 emissions reductions has not been fully investigated. To address this gap, this study theoretically and empirically explores the mechanism of land urbanization’s influence on CO 2 emissions by integrating land use optimization and high-quality industrial development into a unified framework. Firstly, the theoretical mechanism analysis indicates that low-level industrial development and land use management promote the increase of CO 2 emissions per unit of land at the extensive land use stage; however, high-quality industrial development and land use optimization lower CO 2 emissions per unit of land at the intensive land use stage. Subsequently, a STIRPAT model and a spatial adaptive semi-parametric model are employed to verify the relationship between the land urbanization rate and total CO 2 emissions. The results indicate that the land urbanization rate and total CO 2 emissions present an inverted U-shaped relationship. In addition, the mediating mechanism of the advanced industrial structure, CO 2 emissions per unit of GDP, and CO 2 emissions per unit of land, are studied using the mediating effect model. Results indicate that CO 2 emissions reduction can be achieved by promoting the advanced industrial structure, reducing CO 2 emissions per unit of GDP or reducing CO 2 emissions per unit of land. Ultimately, this study showed that the Chinese government may reduce CO 2 emissions by promoting land use structure optimization, land use intensity regulation, land use efficiency improvement, and adjusting energy consumption structure, upgrading industrial structure, and promoting emission efficiency technologies.