[Analysis of the Spatial Network Structural Characteristics of Land Use Carbon Emission Efficiency in Urban...

Under the national strategy for ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin， this study investigates the spatial correlation patterns and formation mechanisms of land use carbon emission efficiency in urban agglomerations. Utilizing the super-efficiency SBM model with undesirable outputs and social network analysis， we examine the structural characteristics of the carbon emission efficiency network and identify core cities within the network. The key findings are as follows： ①During the study period， land use carbon emission efficiency in the Yellow River Basin urban agglomerations significantly improved， with spatial disparities gradually widening. High-efficiency zones concentrated in the eastern and central regions. ②Spatial correlations among urban agglomerations notably strengthened， with the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration， Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration， Jiziwan Metropolitan Area， and Central Plains Urban Agglomeration demonstrating significant spatial spillover effects. ③The overall network exhibited stable and balanced characteristics. Analysis of individual network features revealed substantially enhanced centrality in cities such as Qingdao， Dongying， and Zhengzhou， establishing them as key network nodes. ④Urban agglomerations were categorized into four functional plates： net spillover， main beneficiary， broker， and net beneficiary. ⑤Geographical distance， economic development level， mean temperature， carbon emission intensity， and construction land exerted significant impacts on the spatial correlation of land use carbon emission efficiency.