Ziyuan Kexue (Dec 2023)
Grid scale measurement of carbon compensation in Chongqing City: Based on the perspective of land use
Abstract
[Objective] Improving the carbon compensation mechanism is an important action to cope with climate change and realize the goal of carbon neutrality. At the grid scale, the establishment of carbon compensation between administrative units can provide a reference for regional low-carbon coordinated development based on land use change. [Methods] Using land cover and socioeconomic data at a grid scale of 5 km×5 km, this study calculated the carbon source/sink of land use in Chongqing from 2000 to 2020, and then explored the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the carbon source/sink. Further more, the carbon compensation value with the revised net carbon emissions was estimated. Finally, the path for Chongqing to achieve carbon compensation was discussed. [Results] During the research period, carbon emissions in Chongqing showed a continuous increase, with a total increase of 37.29 million tons. The carbon absorption was slowly increasing, with a total increase of 0.059 million tons. The carbon emissions showed a “core-periphery” spatial structure with the central urban area as the high-value center and gradually decreasing towards the two wings. The areas with reduced carbon emissions were mainly in Changshou, while the areas with increased emissions mainly occurred in Yubei, Jiulongpo, Shapingba, and the northwest of Ba’nan. The carbon absorption showed a distribution pattern of “high in two wings and low in the middle” in general. Fengjie, Yunyang, and Wanzhou were areas of carbon sink growth, while the northeast of Chongqing and some areas in the central urban area showed the reduction of carbon sink. The carbon compensation paying areas were concentrated in the central urban area, central Liangping, southeastern Kaizhou, and southwestern Fengdu, with a total payment amount of 2.337 billion yuan. The regions that can receive carbon compensation were mainly distributed in the two wings and a small number within the main urban area, with a total amount of 1.406 billion yuan. [Conclusion] Carbon emissions in Chongqing far exceed carbon absorption, and there exists spatial heterogeneity in the carbon compensation value at the grid scale. It is recommended to formulate differentiated compensation funding policies according to the actual situation, so as to ensure the economic interests of carbon compensation receiving areas and emphasize the ecological protection responsibility of carbon compensation paying areas. It is also necessary to promote cross-regional and county-level horizontal ecological compensation through multiple channels, and create a win-win situation between ecological protection and economic development.
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