Dynamicity of carbon emission and its relationship with heat extreme and green spaces in a global south tropical mega-city region

Abstract

Assessing the dynamicity of carbon emissions (CE) and their relationship with heat extremes and green spaces in cities is crucial for sustainable urban planning and climate resilience. CE contributes to the urban heat island (UHI) effect, intensifying heat extremes that pose health risks and increase energy consumption. This research aims to examine the dynamics of CE and its relationship with heat extreme (UHI) and green spaces in Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA), India from 2000 to 2020 using land-use carbon emission (LCE) model. The influence of green space and extreme heat on CE was analyzed using spearman correlation analysis. The study revealed that a) green spaces decreased by 60%, while built-up area increased by 185.9% b) the mean land surface temperature (LST) rose by 28%, and areas with high and very high UHI intensity expanded by 3.9% c) CE increased by approximately 188.2%, with an average annual increase of 9.4% with the highest increase from built-up areas d) UHI intensity had a positive impact on CE whereas green space was found to have a negative impact on CE (significant at p < 0.001). Thus, green spaces play a vital role in reducing carbon levels by acting as carbon sinks and regulating urban temperatures. By analyzing their impact, cities can optimize green infrastructure to mitigate heat stress and improve air quality.