Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns

As urbanization accelerates, decoupling urban development from environmental consumption, particularly carbon emissions, is crucial for sustainable growth and achieving carbon neutrality goals. This study introduces urban expansion intensity as a new perspective to analyze the decoupling between urb...

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Main Authors: Xiangming Lin, Yuantao Liao, Shaojian Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1579001/full
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author Xiangming Lin
Yuantao Liao
Yuantao Liao
Yuantao Liao
Shaojian Wang
author_facet Xiangming Lin
Yuantao Liao
Yuantao Liao
Yuantao Liao
Shaojian Wang
author_sort Xiangming Lin
collection DOAJ
description As urbanization accelerates, decoupling urban development from environmental consumption, particularly carbon emissions, is crucial for sustainable growth and achieving carbon neutrality goals. This study introduces urban expansion intensity as a new perspective to analyze the decoupling between urban expansion and carbon emissions. Based on the Urban Expansion Disparity Index, 297 Chinese cities are classified. The Tapio model is used to examine the spatiotemporal variations in decoupling from 2007 to 2022, while the LMDI model identifies key factors influencing regional carbon emissions. Findings reveal: (1) a polarized decoupling pattern, dominated by weak and strong negative decoupling; (2) a strong link between urban expansion types and decoupling modes, with fast-expanding cities exhibiting weak/strong decoupling and growth linkage, while slow-expanding or shrinking cities show expansion-negative and strong negative decoupling; (3) expansion and affluence effects drive emissions, while technology mitigates them, with significant regional differences. This study provides theoretical insights into urban expansion and carbon decoupling dynamics, informing region-specific policy interventions.
format Article
id doaj-art-359747e271e346eba9b15e8f463be6aa
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-665X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Environmental Science
spelling doaj-art-359747e271e346eba9b15e8f463be6aa2025-08-20T03:53:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-05-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15790011579001Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patternsXiangming Lin0Yuantao Liao1Yuantao Liao2Yuantao Liao3Shaojian Wang4Zhanjiang Planning, Survey and Design Institute Co., Ltd, Zhanjiang, ChinaGuangzhou Urban Planning and Design Survey Research Institute Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, Chinaollaborative Innovation Center for Natural Resources Planning and Marine Technology of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Enterprise Key Laboratory for Urban Sensing, Monitoring and Early Warning, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaAs urbanization accelerates, decoupling urban development from environmental consumption, particularly carbon emissions, is crucial for sustainable growth and achieving carbon neutrality goals. This study introduces urban expansion intensity as a new perspective to analyze the decoupling between urban expansion and carbon emissions. Based on the Urban Expansion Disparity Index, 297 Chinese cities are classified. The Tapio model is used to examine the spatiotemporal variations in decoupling from 2007 to 2022, while the LMDI model identifies key factors influencing regional carbon emissions. Findings reveal: (1) a polarized decoupling pattern, dominated by weak and strong negative decoupling; (2) a strong link between urban expansion types and decoupling modes, with fast-expanding cities exhibiting weak/strong decoupling and growth linkage, while slow-expanding or shrinking cities show expansion-negative and strong negative decoupling; (3) expansion and affluence effects drive emissions, while technology mitigates them, with significant regional differences. This study provides theoretical insights into urban expansion and carbon decoupling dynamics, informing region-specific policy interventions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1579001/fullcarbon emissionsurban expansionurban expansion disparity indexTapio modelLMDI model
spellingShingle Xiangming Lin
Yuantao Liao
Yuantao Liao
Yuantao Liao
Shaojian Wang
Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns
Frontiers in Environmental Science
carbon emissions
urban expansion
urban expansion disparity index
Tapio model
LMDI model
title Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns
title_full Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns
title_short Spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in China: insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns
title_sort spatiotemporal analysis of decoupling urban expansion and carbon emissions in china insights from different expansion and decoupling patterns
topic carbon emissions
urban expansion
urban expansion disparity index
Tapio model
LMDI model
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1579001/full
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AT yuantaoliao spatiotemporalanalysisofdecouplingurbanexpansionandcarbonemissionsinchinainsightsfromdifferentexpansionanddecouplingpatterns
AT yuantaoliao spatiotemporalanalysisofdecouplingurbanexpansionandcarbonemissionsinchinainsightsfromdifferentexpansionanddecouplingpatterns
AT yuantaoliao spatiotemporalanalysisofdecouplingurbanexpansionandcarbonemissionsinchinainsightsfromdifferentexpansionanddecouplingpatterns
AT shaojianwang spatiotemporalanalysisofdecouplingurbanexpansionandcarbonemissionsinchinainsightsfromdifferentexpansionanddecouplingpatterns