Commuting carbon emissions pose a growing environmental challenge, especially in rapidly urbanizing cities. Understanding how internal migrants contribute to these emissions is crucial for effective urban sustainability management. In both research and policy discourse, migrants are often assumed to have a linear impact on commuting pressure as urban populations grow. This study challenges that assumption by examining the heterogeneity of commuting emissions between locals and migrants, using data from 816,986 individuals across 288 Chinese cities. We find that total emissions increase with city size, while per capita emissions follow a U-shaped pattern. Locals in large cities exhibit higher per capita emissions, whereas migrants in smaller cities tend to emit more. These differences are largely driven by variations in education, occupation, and travel behavior. Our findings improve understanding of how demographic and spatial inequalities shape transport-related emissions and highlight the importance of considering population heterogeneity in environmental assessments. The study offers evidence to inform inclusive low-carbon transport policies, supporting migrant’ transition toward sustainable mobility and contributing to broader urban environmental sustainability.
扫码关注我们
求助内容:
应助结果提醒方式:
