Spatial relationship of urban carbon neutrality in Yangtze River Basin

Carbon neutrality needs to be implemented spatially in order to be realized concretely. The distribution of carbon sources and sinks across the national territory is closely related to many factors, such as natural geographical resources, levels of economic and social development, and cultural and historical heritage. It is difficult for many regions to achieve carbon neutrality through their own efforts alone. This article believes that only by achieving local optimal carbon neutrality through a reasonable spatial organization can emissions be ultimately reduced to zero on a national scale. Under the connection of rivers, the basin forms an ecosystem and an economic system with independent characteristics. Carbon sources and sinks within the basin exist within the ecological and economic space of the basin, forming a unique carbon neutrality spatial pattern. This study starts with the spatial distribution status, features and relationships of carbon neutrality elements in the cities of the Yangtze River Basin, and divides the cities into eight types based on their development level, emission level and forest resources, such as high-emission and low-carbon sink developed cities and low-emission and high-carbon sink underdeveloped cities. Different types of cities are proposed with carbon neutrality paths and spatial organization schemes, and it is suggested that the spatial organization demonstration of carbon neutrality in the cities of the Yangtze River Basin can provide a reference for carbon neutrality on a national scale.