[Spatial-temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Carbon Footprint in Gansu Province]

The impact of global climate change on human society and the natural environment is becoming increasingly prominent. Quantitative analysis of carbon emissions and carbon absorption， as well as scientific calculation of carbon footprints， are effective means to respond to global climate change and achieve the "dual carbon" goals. Here， taking Gansu Province as an example， we selected the period from 1998 to 2022 as the research period. By constructing a carbon emission and carbon absorption model， we explored the temporal changes and spatial differences of the carbon footprint and ecological support coefficient in Gansu Province and its cities and used Geodetector to analyze the driving factors of carbon footprint changes. The results showed that： ① Affected by natural conditions and economic development， the carbon absorption in Gansu Province has shown no significant changing trend in the past 25 years. Economic development and urban expansion have led to continuous energy consumption and a significant increase in carbon emissions. ② The carbon footprint and ecological support coefficient showed regional differences. The increment of carbon footprint in Gansu Province was 2 163.887×10⁴ hm²， which was the highest value， while the ecological support coefficient only remained at 0.12-0.16. Longnan and Gannan were rich in natural resources such as vegetation and water. They had the largest proportion of carbon absorption， and their ecological support coefficient ranged from 4.39 to 5.23 and from 6.80 to 8.80， respectively. ③ The change in carbon footprint was influenced by multiple factors such as society， economy， and nature. Population， GDP and urbanization rate were the key factors leading to the change in carbon footprint in Gansu Province， followed by industrial structure and energy consumption. The combined effect of socio-economic factors and natural factors was greater than that of individual factors on the change of carbon footprint. Controlling carbon emissions to slow down global warming and ensure the healthy development of human society has become an issue of common concern worldwide. Based on the calculation of the carbon footprint and ecological support coefficient， it can provide reference for the reasonable formulation of carbon emission reduction measures in Gansu Province.