Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Urban Sprawl on Carbon Emission Intensity of Cities in the Yangtze River Basin

Abstract

This paper constructs an urban sprawl index (USI) based on nighttime lighting data, and explores the impact of urban sprawl on carbon emission intensity (CEI) using panel data model and spatial econometric model. The results show that: (1) In the correlation test between the USI constructed based on nighttime lighting data and the USI constructed from statistical data, most models yield significantly positive results. The USI constructed from nighttime lighting data can be used to characterize urban sprawl. (2) The USI and CEI in the Yangtze River Basin decreased overall. The distance between CEI and USI exhibited a general trend of widening, leading to a gradual weakening of the influence between the two. In spatial distribution, the USI experienced minimal change overall, whereas the second-highest intensity of CEI was notably concentrated towards the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. (3) There is a significant U-shaped relationship and spillover effect between CEI and USI. The impact of the level of economic development and the extent of greening is more pronounced, while the influence of other variables is relatively minor. The results of the study suggest that spatial planning should be tailored to the local economic development status. It is important to leverage the benefits of population agglomeration to enhance the capacity of urban ecological resources and encourage sustainable production practices in cities within the Yangtze River Basin.