Analysis of dynamic evolution characteristics and driving factors of regional synergistic effect of reducing carbon and saving water: the case of Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations, China

Carbon emissions and water consumption are both important factors affecting sustainable development. Therefore, it is necessary to put them in the same research framework and investigate the synergy. In this study, the dynamic evolution characteristics of the synergistic effect of reducing carbon and saving water (RCSW) were analyzed. Then, taking the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations (YRDUA) as the research object, the influencing factors and specific paths of the synergistic effect were clarified. The results showed that the low-carbon emission efficiency (LCEE) had a stable synergy with the intensive utilization efficiency of water resources (IUEWR) in the YRDUA. Government financial expenditure, actual use of foreign capital, and population density were the most significant driving forces for the synergistic effect of RCSW, with q values of 0.561, 0.363, and 0.240, respectively. In addition, most of the interactions of the driving factors were nonlinear enhancement and double-factor enhancement.