Urban Green Spaces as Carbon Sinks: A Comparative Scientometric Analysis of Global Research Trends and China’s Role

This study presents a comparative scientometric analysis of 526 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database to decode the global research trajectory on urban green space (UGS) carbon sinks and to delineate China’s distinctive role. Analysis reveals a clear evolution in research focus and output. Early work (before 2011) established foundational concepts. The subsequent period (2011–2015) witnessed significant methodological diversification, driven by advances in remote sensing and quantitative carbon flux assessment. Following the Paris Agreement in 2015, research emphasis shifted markedly towards policy-integrated applications and the exploration of synergies between carbon sequestration and sustainable urban development. A key finding is the rapid ascendancy of Chinese research output post-2020, a surge that has established China as a leading contributor to the field and is closely aligned with the national “dual carbon” goals. The synthesis identifies a critical methodological shortcoming: an “ecological analogy trap,” in which an over-reliance on forest-derived biomass equations systematically overlooks urban-specific anthropogenic factors. The methodological frontier is increasingly defined by the integration of multi-source remote sensing (e.g., LiDAR-optical fusion) and machine learning to overcome urban heterogeneity, though challenges in model transferability persist. The study concludes that while international scholarship increasingly emphasizes the coupling of carbon sink analysis with socio-ecological equity, China’s policy-driven research has prioritized the optimization of technological pathways for carbon accounting. To advance the field, future research must develop urban-specific protocols, leverage advanced computational techniques, and foster interdisciplinary, multi-scale frameworks to provide robust decision-support for achieving urban carbon neutrality.