Spatiotemporal Variation of Per Capita Carbon Emissions and Carbon Compensation Zoning in Chinese Counties

The per capita carbon balance and carbon compensation zoning of Chinese counties from the perspective of major function-oriented zones is important for realizing the carbon peaking and carbon neutral target. In this study, the Kernel-K-means++ algorithm is used and a more comprehensive per capita carbon compensation zoning model is constructed. Based on this, combined with the major function-oriented zones, Chinese counties are divided into per capita carbon compensation-type zones. Further, spatial and temporal characteristics are detected, and suggestions for optimizing low-carbon development are put forward. The main results are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2017, the per capita carbon emissions (PCO2) of Chinese counties were large and showed a trend of stable expansion and a southeast-northwest pattern; (2) the per capita carbon emissions of key development zones accounted for the largest proportion of emissions; (3) there were 1410 payment zones, 170 balanced zones, and 242 compensated zones among China's counties; and (4) 11 types of carbon compensation space optimization zones were finally formed, and low-carbon development directions and strategies were proposed for each type of area. Based on this, this study promotes regional carbon emissions management and reduction in China and provides a reference for other regions to reduce emissions.