How Does Land Urbanization Promote CO2 Emissions Reduction? Evidence From Chinese Prefectural-Level Cities
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 whi...
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Published in | Frontiers in environmental science Vol. 9 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Frontiers Media S.A
14.12.2021
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | 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. |
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ISSN: | 2296-665X 2296-665X |
DOI: | 10.3389/fenvs.2021.766839 |