County-level carbon budget and carbon compensation in the Yellow River Basin: a perspective with balancing efficiency and equity

The paper firstly analyzed the spatial–temporal characteristics of carbon budget and carbon compensation rate at the county level in the Yellow River Basin. Then, the carbon compensation value was estimated by an improved carbon compensation model from a perspective with balancing efficiency and equity. Finally, the factors influencing carbon compensation value was analyzed and the compensation zoning was implemented. Results showed that the carbon compensation rate of western county units in the Yellow River Basin was higher than that of eastern county units. Counties with better economic conditions, higher proportion of secondary industry and higher energy consumption had lower carbon compensation rate. The whole basin needed to pay the compensation funds to realize the collaborative carbon emission reduction. The primary payment areas, secondary payment areas and relative balance areas were concentrated in the eastern and central regions, while the primary supplement areas and secondary supplement areas were mainly distributed in the western and southern regions. The population distribution was the primary factor affecting the spatial distribution of carbon compensation value, followed by the economic development and industrial structure, while the regional location, traffic conditions and government intervention had a small impact. In the future, the strategies such as strengthening the top-level design of carbon compensation, implementing a carbon quota system based on carbon budget, improving carbon trading market with considering horizontal carbon compensation and reducing carbon source and increasing carbon sink according to local conditions should be adopted. This paper improved the calculation method of horizontal carbon compensation and revealed the factors influencing the spatial distribution of carbon compensation value. It provided a new perspective for the regional equitable, efficient and coordinated development in the Yellow River Basin.