Factors Influencing Urban Land Green Use Efficiency in China: A Meta-Analysis

China, the world’s predominant carbon emitter, is instrumental in advancing green and low-carbon urban land development globally. Urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) in China is shaped by a multifaceted array of economic and social factors. Given the incongruous results observed in prior research, a comprehensive evaluation of these factors is paramount. This study consolidates data from previous research that explored the determinants of ULGUE in China. Utilizing the IPAT model as a foundational framework, the influencing factors were classified, and meta-analysis was employed to quantify their overall impact. The results show the following: (1) Population agglomeration exhibits a nonlinear effect on ULGUE, with moderate density enhancing efficiency but excessive concentration yielding diminishing returns; (2) Economic development efficiency positively affects ULGUE, with both gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and industrial structure advancement showing significant positive associations; (3) Social development equity demonstrates a threshold effect, where excessive governmental intervention or disproportionate investment in science and education may constrain ULGUE; (4) Resource endowment sustainability, including per capita green space and road infrastructure, consistently enhances ULGUE; (5) The impacts of these factors vary across regions, highlighting the importance of context-specific strategies. These findings provide robust evidence for policymakers to design targeted interventions that account for nonlinearities, threshold effects, and regional heterogeneity, thereby supporting sustainable, green, and low-carbon urban land use in China.