Spatial and Temporal Evolution Characteristics of Carbon Emission from Land Use and Influencing Factors in Gansu Province

Abstract

Land ecosystems are the largest carbon sink in the world, and land use change is one of the main factors leading to regional carbon emissions. By studying the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of land use carbon emissions in Gansu Province from 2000 to 2020, this research aimed to provide a scientific basis and reference for promoting low-carbon land use and low-carbon economic development in Gansu Province. Using land use data and the greenhouse gas emission coefficient method, the study analyzed the growth trend of land use carbon emissions at the city-regional scale in Gansu Province, and the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics at the provincial scale, and identified the controlling factors through principal component analysis. The results showed that： ① From 2000 to 2020, land use carbon emissions in Gansu Province showed an overall increasing trend, from 24.289 3 million tons to 57.739 6 million tons. The first stage from 2000 to 2014 was a significant increase period, whereas the second stage from 2014 to 2020 was a stable and slightly decreasing period. Construction land was the main carbon source, and the carbon intensity continued to increase. ② Spatially, there was an "east high, west low" pattern, with carbon emissions in the eastern part of the province significantly higher than those in the western part. ③ Based on emission characteristics, Gansu Province could be divided into five types of carbon emission zones： slow growth, relatively slow growth, moderate growth, relatively fast growth, and rapid growth. ④ The main reasons for the continuous increase in land use carbon emissions in Gansu Province were economic development level, degree of land use, and energy consumption.