Spatiotemporal dynamics of CO2 emissions using nighttime light data: a comparative analysis between the Yellow and Yangtze River Basins in China.

Scientific estimation and dynamic monitoring of CO₂ emission trends are an important basis for formulating regional differentiated carbon reduction strategies. Using the integrated nighttime light data, this study estimated CO₂ emissions in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and Yangtze River Basin (YZRB) and discussed the similarities and differences of the spatial distribution of CO₂ emissions for the two river basins. The results showed that: (1) The CO₂ emissions in the two basins continued to rise, but the growth rate decreased from 2000 to 2018, showing an overall convergence trend, but have not yet reached carbon peak. (2) The high emission and high agglomeration areas were located in Shandong Province in the downstream of the YRB, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia in the midstream and upstream, and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). (3) Compared with the YRB, the growth rate of CO₂ emissions in the YZRB is slower, and the growth rate declines greatly. In the YRB, it had higher CO₂ emissions amount, wider area of high carbon emissions and more obvious spatial agglomeration than that in the YZRB. (4) According to CO₂ emissions and economic development level, 220 cities of the two river basins were classified three types: low CO₂–low development, high CO₂–low development and high CO₂–high development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]