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Abstract
This study analysed spatial-temporal dynamics of carbon emissions and carbon sinks in Guangdong Province, South China. The methodology was based on land use/land cover data interpreted from continuous high-resolution satellite images and energy consumption statistics, using carbon emission/sink factor method. The results indicated that: (1) From 2005 to 2013, different land use/land cover types in Guangdong experienced varying degrees of change in area, primarily the expansion of built-up land and shrinkage of forest land and grassland; (2) Total carbon emissions increased sharply, from 76.11 to 140.19 TgC yr−1 at the provincial level, with an average annual growth rate of 10.52%, while vegetation carbon sinks declined slightly, from 54.52 to 53.20 TgC yr−1. Both factors showed significant regional differences, with Pearl River Delta and North Guangdong contributing over 50% to provincial carbon emissions and carbon sinks, respectively; (3) Correlation analysis showed social-economic factors (GDP per capita and permanent resident population) have significant positive impacts on carbon emissions at the provincial and city levels; (4) The relationship between economic growth and carbon emission intensity suggests that carbon emission efficiency in Guangdong improves with economic growth. This study provides new insight for Guangdong to achieve carbon reduction goals and realize low-carbon development.
Highlights
Global warming, one of the most serious environmental issues humans must currently confront, is due primarily to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions[1]
Our study found that different land use/land cover types in Guangdong experienced varying degrees of change in area from 2005 to 2013, primarily presented as increasing of built-up land and water bodies, and decreasing of grassland, forest land, cropland and barren land (Supplementary Table S3 and Fig. S1)
We explored the relationship between carbon emissions and social-economic development to find out the factors influencing the quantity and direction of carbon emissions in Guangdong Province
Summary
One of the most serious environmental issues humans must currently confront, is due primarily to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions[1]. In economically developed regions like Guangdong Province, due to the relatively high degree of urbanization, LULCC during the most recent years is not dramatic compared with other rapidly developing regions, carbon emissions of land use are still very large This is because a considerable amount of carbon emissions could be originated from many sources in addition to LULCC, including mechanized agricultural tillage and urban construction driven by human economic activities[23,31]. Both are associated with carbon emissions resulting from energy consumption and industrial production. The regional land use carbon emissions should be analysed to determine how to reduce carbon emissions through land use policy[34,35]
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