Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practice

IntroductionEfficient land resource utilization is increasingly important for regional development as global attention focuses on sustainable development in border regions. This study develops an innovative ’border location‐functional differentiation‐efficiency coupling‘ theoretical framework.Method...

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Main Authors: Xuncheng Fan, Lili Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1582896/full
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author Xuncheng Fan
Lili Zhao
author_facet Xuncheng Fan
Lili Zhao
author_sort Xuncheng Fan
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionEfficient land resource utilization is increasingly important for regional development as global attention focuses on sustainable development in border regions. This study develops an innovative ’border location‐functional differentiation‐efficiency coupling‘ theoretical framework.MethodsUsing this foundation, we employ regression‐based path analysis and spatial analytical methods to evaluate the relationship between land use policies and green utilization efficiency across fourteen northeastern China border cities from 2010 to 2020.ResultsOur research reveals significant spatial heterogeneity in land use patterns. Industrial cities show lower land green utilization efficiency (8.14‐12.48 tons CO2/10,000 yuan). In contrast, port cities maintain higher utilization efficiency (average 1.54 tons CO2/10,000 yuan). Land use policies oriented toward industrial transformation and ecological protection significantly enhance land green utilization efficiency. Energy intensity (−6452.09, p < 0.05) and industrial structure (−4664.92, p < 0.01) are key inhibiting factors. Different types of cities present differentiated policy responses.DiscussionIndustrial cities promote technological upgrades through digital transformation. Ecological cities emphasize protection-oriented smart development. These findings enrich theoretical research on land use efficiency in border regions. They also provide a scientific basis for formulating differentiated land use policies. This has important practical significance for promoting ecological civilization construction and high-quality development in China’s northern border regions.
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spelling doaj-art-fa0715c6c517420aa829ea37a1340ebc2025-08-20T02:20:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-04-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15828961582896Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practiceXuncheng FanLili ZhaoIntroductionEfficient land resource utilization is increasingly important for regional development as global attention focuses on sustainable development in border regions. This study develops an innovative ’border location‐functional differentiation‐efficiency coupling‘ theoretical framework.MethodsUsing this foundation, we employ regression‐based path analysis and spatial analytical methods to evaluate the relationship between land use policies and green utilization efficiency across fourteen northeastern China border cities from 2010 to 2020.ResultsOur research reveals significant spatial heterogeneity in land use patterns. Industrial cities show lower land green utilization efficiency (8.14‐12.48 tons CO2/10,000 yuan). In contrast, port cities maintain higher utilization efficiency (average 1.54 tons CO2/10,000 yuan). Land use policies oriented toward industrial transformation and ecological protection significantly enhance land green utilization efficiency. Energy intensity (−6452.09, p < 0.05) and industrial structure (−4664.92, p < 0.01) are key inhibiting factors. Different types of cities present differentiated policy responses.DiscussionIndustrial cities promote technological upgrades through digital transformation. Ecological cities emphasize protection-oriented smart development. These findings enrich theoretical research on land use efficiency in border regions. They also provide a scientific basis for formulating differentiated land use policies. This has important practical significance for promoting ecological civilization construction and high-quality development in China’s northern border regions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1582896/fullland-use policygreen utilization efficiencyborder citiescarbon reductionspatial heterogeneitysustainable development
spellingShingle Xuncheng Fan
Lili Zhao
Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practice
Frontiers in Environmental Science
land-use policy
green utilization efficiency
border cities
carbon reduction
spatial heterogeneity
sustainable development
title Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practice
title_full Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practice
title_fullStr Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practice
title_full_unstemmed Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practice
title_short Land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities: evidence from northeastern China’s carbon reduction practice
title_sort land use policy and green utilization efficiency in border cities evidence from northeastern china s carbon reduction practice
topic land-use policy
green utilization efficiency
border cities
carbon reduction
spatial heterogeneity
sustainable development
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1582896/full
work_keys_str_mv AT xunchengfan landusepolicyandgreenutilizationefficiencyinbordercitiesevidencefromnortheasternchinascarbonreductionpractice
AT lilizhao landusepolicyandgreenutilizationefficiencyinbordercitiesevidencefromnortheasternchinascarbonreductionpractice