LAND USE, TRANSPORT, AND CARBON EMISSIONS: A COMPUTABLE URBAN ECONOMIC MODEL FOR CHANGZHOU, CHINA

Abstract

Rapid economic growth and urbanization has been accompanied by the equally rapid growth of carbon dioxide emissions in China. From the perspective of urban planning, land use, transport, and carbon emissions are involved in a complex process in which they interact with each other. We need to develop a computable urban economic model for sustainable infrastructure planning strategy, which can reflect the interaction among land use, transport, and carbon emissions. Our case study of Changzhou shows that a compact city scenario generates less carbon emissions than an urban sprawl scenario, indicating that a compact urban form can be accepted as a promising solution for developing a low-carbon city.