PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2014, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (11): 1526-1534.doi: 10.11820/dlkxjz.2014.09.009

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research progress of impact of urbanization on carbon emissions

Yaochen QIN(), Peijun RONG, Quntao YANG, Xu LI, Xiaoju NING   

  1. College of Environment and Planning/Henan Collaborative Innovation Center for Coordinating Industrialization, Urbanization and Agriculture Modernization in Central Economic Zone, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China
  • Online:2014-11-25 Published:2014-09-30

Abstract:

Urbanization is not only a worldwide phenomenon, but also the trend of historical development. As the impact of global climate change on people and the environment grows increasingly profound, the impact of urbanization on greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide emissions has received growing academic attention. This article examines a large number of international and Chinese literature on the impact of urbanization on carbon emissions and systematically summarizes and reviews these studies from the following three aspects: the origin and development of research on the impact of urbanization on carbon emissions, research contents, and research methods. The review shows that, current studies focus on the relationship between urbanization and carbon emissions; influencing factors of urbanization on carbon emissions, which include macro- and micro-level factors, and the impact mechanism of urbanization on carbon emissions. The main research methods are quantitative. Varies methods, such as IPAT, STIRPAT, GTWR, IDA, SDA, EBA, have been applied. Although Chinese research on the topic lags behind international studies, rapid progress has been made over recent year. Overall, the impact of urbanization on carbon emissions is a long and complex process, which involves population density, technological progress, industrial structure, level of economic development, and stage and level of urbanization in various countries and regions, as well as many other factors. Although the content of the current research is becoming more detailed and the issues have been addressed more thoroughly, and the research methods have become more scientific and diverse, the study on this problem still needs to be improved. For example, research perspectives should be broadened and research methods should be refined in order to provide a scientific basis for urban development strategies and lay the foundation for the development of low-carbon cities.

Key words: urbanization, carbon emission, influencing factor, research progress

CLC Number: 

  • K901.8