Spatiotemporal Variations and Influencing Factors of Urban Carbon Sink: A Case Study of Wuhan, China

Abstract

Increasing carbon sinks based on a comprehensive understanding of urban carbon sinks is an effective means for building low-carbon cities and mitigating global climate change. Using the intensity analysis and regression analysis methods, the multiple types of urban carbon sinks in Wuhan from 2000 to 2020 was estimated in this study, and the spatiotemporal changes in land use and the carbon sinks were explored. The influencing factors of the urban carbon sink were also analyzed. The results showed the following: (a) the area of carbon sink land in Wuhan decreased from 2000 to 2020. The transfer area of forest land and water bodies was large. However, their annual loss intensity was lower than the uniform intensity. (b) The urban carbon sink showed a linear downward trend. Specifically, the forest carbon sink was always the main type and accounted for about 60% of the total carbon sinks. (c) The characteristics of the interannual variation in different types of carbon sinks in different districts were various, including the range and direction of variation. Only the total carbon sinks in Xinzhou District increased from 2000 to 2010, and other districts decreased from 2000 to 2020. (d) The gross domestic product per square kilometer was the common influencing factor of carbon sink change in 2000, 2010, and 2020. The land use degree, population change, and industrial structure affected the changes in the carbon sink at different times. These findings hope to help in achieving low-carbon cities and carbon neutrality.