Global urban expansion offsets climate-driven increases in terrestrial net primary productivity

Xiaoping Liu, Fengsong Pei, Youyue Wen, Xia Li (), Shaojian Wang (), Changjiang Wu, Yiling Cai, Jianguo Wu, Jun Chen, Kuishuang Feng, Junguo Liu, Klaus Hubacek, Steven J. Davis (), Wenping Yuan, Le Yu and Zhu Liu ()
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Xiaoping Liu: Sun Yat-sen University
Fengsong Pei: Jiangsu Normal University
Youyue Wen: Sun Yat-sen University
Xia Li: Sun Yat-sen University
Shaojian Wang: Sun Yat-sen University
Changjiang Wu: Sun Yat-sen University
Yiling Cai: Sun Yat-sen University
Jianguo Wu: Arizona State University
Jun Chen: National Geomatics Center of China
Kuishuang Feng: University of Maryland
Junguo Liu: Southern University of Science and Technology
Klaus Hubacek: Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG)
Steven J. Davis: University of California
Wenping Yuan: Sun Yat-sen University
Le Yu: Tsinghua University
Zhu Liu: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The global urbanization rate is accelerating; however, data limitations have far prevented robust estimations of either global urban expansion or its effects on terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP). Here, using a high resolution dataset of global land use/cover (GlobeLand30), we show that global urban areas expanded by an average of 5694 km2 per year between 2000 and 2010. The rapid urban expansion in the past decade has in turn reduced global terrestrial NPP, with a net loss of 22.4 Tg Carbon per year (Tg C year−1). Although small compared to total terrestrial NPP and fossil fuel carbon emissions worldwide, the urbanization-induced decrease in NPP offset 30% of the climate-driven increase (73.6 Tg C year−1) over the same period. Our findings highlight the urgent need for global strategies to address urban expansion, enhance natural carbon sinks, and increase agricultural productivity.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13462-1

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