Analysis of Synergistic Benefits between Carbon Emissions and Air Pollution Based on Remote Sensing Observations: A Case Study of the Central Henan Urban Agglomeration

Abstract

Reducing carbon emissions while controlling air pollution is a dual challenge for China. However, few studies have analyzed whether there is a synergy between the two. In view of this, this paper takes the urban agglomeration in Central Henan as an example, uses multi-source remote sensing and panel data from 2000 to 2022 and analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and synergistic benefits of air pollution and carbon emissions based on the spatial distribution direction analysis model, coupling coordination degree model and multi-scale geographic weighting model. The results indicate the following: (1) Carbon emissions show a growing trend, but the difference in the carbon emissions of different cities is relatively large, showing the characteristics of “one center and two zones” in space. Air pollution shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. (2) The synergistic benefits have been continuously enhanced, and the overall unbalanced state has gradually become coordinated. There is no obvious aggregation feature. (3) The impact of socioeconomic factors on the synergistic benefit is obviously stronger than that of natural ecological factors, among which the total energy consumption, population density and industrial structure are the leading factors of the synergistic benefit of carbon emissions and air pollution. This study offers valuable insights for green development, high-quality growth and collaborative environmental governance within the Central Henan urban agglomeration.