Spatial and temporal characteristics of carbon emission and sequestration of terrestrial ecosystems and their driving factors in mainland China—a case study of 352 prefectural administrative districts

Introduction Global climate change, increase in human activities, and prominence of ecological issues have led to uneven quantitative spatial distributions carbon emission sequestration terrestrial ecosystems. Such can lead more negative impacts on the natural environment living conditions. Methods Therefore, based neutralization policy, we conducted geographically weighted regression (GWR) modeling this study using panel data from 352 Chinese prefectural administrative districts 2000, 2005, 2010, 2017 analyze determine impact factors their distribution for Results Our results showed that total population (TP), per capita gross domestic product (GDP) (PCG), proportion secondary industry output (PSIO), scale urban built-up area (SUB), green space city areas (GSP), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), temperature (TEM) are driving emission. The these mainland China is: (1) TP a correlation most areas, while it exhibited positive southern, southwestern, western parts northwest China; however, all other with sequestration; (2) PCG was positively correlated southwest, south, central, northeast demonstrated remaining areas; (3) PSIO SUB presented In contrast, GSP (5)NDVI toward east “Heihe-Tengchong Line”; NDVI both west line; (6)TEM China. Discussion Based results, further divided cities into 6 groups: Groups 1, 2, 3, where governed by socioeconomic factors. major group 1 PSIO, GSP, NDVI; 2 NDVI. Meanwhile, 3 PCG, 6, controlled SUB, Group 4 represents majorly impacted thereby rendering as forces. 5 sensitive environment, being Considering diverse different China, provided guidance future environmental policies aimed at reducing achieve neutralization.