How Does the Intensive Use of Urban Construction Land Improve Carbon Emission Efficiency?—Evidence from the Panel Data of 30 Provinces in China

Abstract

China actively explores the green development road by promoting the intensive use of urban construction land and low carbon emissions. This research evaluates urban construction land intensity and carbon emission efficiency by using a multifactor comprehensive evaluation method and SBM model and measures the spatial characteristics of between urban construction land intensity and carbon emission efficiency by Moran’s I and LISA scattering. The result shows that (1) the average value of urban construction land intensity was constantly improving from 0.11 in 2000 to 0.29 in 2021, (2) the value of carbon emission efficiency generally showed a fluctuating downward from 0.89 in 2000 to 0.66 in 2009 and then a fluctuating upward to 0.84 in 2021, with many provinces located in the Level III and IV carbon emission efficiency intervals, (3) the land development, road density, technology development, and fixed asset investment have a negative impact on carbon emission efficiency, while the greening level and tax have a positive promotion effect, and (4) the correlation and spatial features between urban construction land intensity and carbon emission efficiency in 30 provinces have consistency, as well as heterogeneity in the temporal and spatial development trends. Policy implications are accordingly proposed.