Abstract: The research on temporal and spatial characteristics of carbon balance at county scale is valuable not only for the theoretical construction of a county-scale carbon balance evaluation system but also for practical applications such as spatial planning and the formulation of low-carbon development strategies. By constructing the carbon balance coefficient, we analyzed the temporal and spatial characteristics of carbon balance in Jiangsu Province from 2000 to 2017 based on data of carbon emission and carbon sequestration at county level. The study reveals that, first, carbon emissions in Jiangsu Province experienced rapid growth from 2001 to 2011, followed by a small fluctuation. In terms of spatial pattern, higher carbon emissions were observed in the economically developed southern region of the province, while the northern region exhibited lower emissions. Second, vegetation carbon sequestration displayed a consistent overall growth with minimal fluctuations. The spatial pattern of carbon sequestration revealed a characteristic distribution of higher values around the periphery and lower values towards the center. Counties with abundant natural resources and high vegetation coverage accounted for the majority of high carbon sink areas. Finally, the number of counties with carbon imbalance increased from 53 in 2000 to 93 in 2017, indicating a significant rise in areas experiencing severe carbon imbalance. Districts and counties with severe carbon imbalance exhibit a similar spatial distribution pattern to those with high carbon emissions, primarily located in the central regions of Nanjing, Gusu District of Suzhou, Guangling District of Yangzhou, and Quanshan District of Xuzhou. Based on these findings, we recommended to promote carbon reduction and increased carbon sink capabilities to achieve the goal of “double carbon” (simultaneous reduction of carbon emissions and enhancement of carbon sequestration).

Key words: carbon emission, carbon sequestration, carbon balance, carbon imbalance, county scale