Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, China

Urban spatial compactness is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable urban development. However, the potential of and variations in spatial compactness in county-level carbon reduction have been largely overlooked. Taking the county-level areas in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (B...

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Main Authors: Muhan Li, Minghao Zuo, Saiyi Chen, Shuang Tang, Tian Chen, Jia Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2104
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author Muhan Li
Minghao Zuo
Saiyi Chen
Shuang Tang
Tian Chen
Jia Liu
author_facet Muhan Li
Minghao Zuo
Saiyi Chen
Shuang Tang
Tian Chen
Jia Liu
author_sort Muhan Li
collection DOAJ
description Urban spatial compactness is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable urban development. However, the potential of and variations in spatial compactness in county-level carbon reduction have been largely overlooked. Taking the county-level areas in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region as an example, after reviewing the dimensions, scales, and pathways of the existing research, we quantifies the spatial compactness from 2005 to 2015 in terms of density, morphology, and function. The results reveal that, firstly, BTH county-level areas’ carbon emissions, both per land area (CO<sub>2</sub>/L) and per capita (CO<sub>2</sub>/P), have generally risen. Heterogeneity varied across spatial compactness indicators: urban density and functional compactness increased, while morphological compactness showed a minor fluctuation. Second, the correlations with CO<sub>2</sub>/L were stronger than those with CO<sub>2</sub>/P, ranking from urban density, functional compactness > morphological compactness. Additionally, the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model revealed the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the impact of spatial compactness on carbon emission intensity. The heterogeneity results provide insights into the mechanisms and general patterns of the differences in the factors influencing carbon emissions in four different types of county-level areas, namely, central, eastern, southern, and northwestern, offering policy guidance to promote the reductions in both CO<sub>2</sub>/L and CO<sub>2</sub>/P. This study is helpful for proposing urban spatial planning strategies for carbon reduction and formulating differentiated carbon reduction policies.
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spelling doaj-art-dabfbd8843034aa2a4303a13343e5a732025-08-20T02:53:30ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-12-011312210410.3390/land13122104Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, ChinaMuhan Li0Minghao Zuo1Saiyi Chen2Shuang Tang3Tian Chen4Jia Liu5School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaSchool of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaSchool of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaCollege of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaSchool of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaSchool of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaUrban spatial compactness is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable urban development. However, the potential of and variations in spatial compactness in county-level carbon reduction have been largely overlooked. Taking the county-level areas in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region as an example, after reviewing the dimensions, scales, and pathways of the existing research, we quantifies the spatial compactness from 2005 to 2015 in terms of density, morphology, and function. The results reveal that, firstly, BTH county-level areas’ carbon emissions, both per land area (CO<sub>2</sub>/L) and per capita (CO<sub>2</sub>/P), have generally risen. Heterogeneity varied across spatial compactness indicators: urban density and functional compactness increased, while morphological compactness showed a minor fluctuation. Second, the correlations with CO<sub>2</sub>/L were stronger than those with CO<sub>2</sub>/P, ranking from urban density, functional compactness > morphological compactness. Additionally, the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model revealed the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the impact of spatial compactness on carbon emission intensity. The heterogeneity results provide insights into the mechanisms and general patterns of the differences in the factors influencing carbon emissions in four different types of county-level areas, namely, central, eastern, southern, and northwestern, offering policy guidance to promote the reductions in both CO<sub>2</sub>/L and CO<sub>2</sub>/P. This study is helpful for proposing urban spatial planning strategies for carbon reduction and formulating differentiated carbon reduction policies.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2104urban spatial compactnessurban carbon emissionsspatiotemporal heterogeneitycounty-level areascarbon emission reduction policies
spellingShingle Muhan Li
Minghao Zuo
Saiyi Chen
Shuang Tang
Tian Chen
Jia Liu
Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, China
Land
urban spatial compactness
urban carbon emissions
spatiotemporal heterogeneity
county-level areas
carbon emission reduction policies
title Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, China
title_full Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, China
title_fullStr Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, China
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, China
title_short Impact of Urban Spatial Compactness on Carbon Emissions: Heterogeneity at the County Level in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area, China
title_sort impact of urban spatial compactness on carbon emissions heterogeneity at the county level in the beijing tianjin hebei area china
topic urban spatial compactness
urban carbon emissions
spatiotemporal heterogeneity
county-level areas
carbon emission reduction policies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2104
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