Effects of Land Use Patterns on Carbon Emission in Panyu District of Guangzhou City

Land use is one of the most mainly factors that causing the carbon emission. In order to analyze the effects of land use pattern on carbon emission, using data from Panyu District of Guangzhou City, the authors calculated the carbon emission which is influenced by different land use patterns. The results indicated that carbon emission is significantly diverse according to different land use patterns, in which the construction land and cultivated land are the two main carbon sources. It was found that carbon emissions were increasing by 16.6% during 1990-2005. Furthermore, two indexes that could better reflect carbon emission intensity were calculated. The carbon emission per unit area of land and carbon emission per unit area of construction land respectively showed a value of 15.29 t/hm² and 86.23 t/hm² in 2000. The land for construction was the largest carbon source, and the carbon emission per ha was increasing from 1990 to 2005. However, carbon sink maintained generally stable during this period. Finally, some suggestions on carbon emission reductions and fostering studies about low-carbon economy in Panyu District were given.