Impacts of the Urban Form Structure on Carbon Emission Efficiency in China’s Three Major Urban Agglomerations: A Study from an Urban Economic Activities Perspective

Xiaolong Shi, Yu Cheng (), Jianing Zhang, Yue Zhang, Lijie Wei and Yaping Wang ()
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Xiaolong Shi: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Yu Cheng: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Jianing Zhang: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Yue Zhang: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Lijie Wei: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Yaping Wang: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-23

Abstract: Urban activities are a significant source of global carbon emissions. Balancing economic development and environmental protection during urban construction and development has become a common concern worldwide. The urban form structure, as the spatial foundation of urban activities, is critical for both current and future urban development. In this study, an urban economic activities perspective is taken to examine the relationship between the urban form structure and carbon emission efficiency in 63 prefecture-level cities within China’s three major urban agglomerations from 2013 to 2022. Two dimensions are considered: land resource development and the urban spatial layout. The research findings indicate that (1) the built-up areas of the three major urban agglomerations in China generally exhibit a pattern of “core cities expanding outwards and peripheral cities emerging sporadically”. (2) Various urban form structure indicators have different effects on carbon emission efficiency, with interaction detection via geographic detectors showing a dual-factor enhancement effect. (3) Urban form structure influences carbon emission efficiency through the mediating pathway of economic agglomeration. This study enriches empirical research on the impact of the urban form structure on carbon emission efficiency from an economic activities perspective and provides empirical evidence for urban spatial planning and achieving sustainable development.

Keywords: urban form structure; three major urban agglomerations; carbon emission efficiency; mediating effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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