Evaluating construction land use efficiency under carbon emission constraints: A comparative study of China and the USA

Research on construction land use efficiency with carbon emissions provides valuable insights for effective regulation of land use planning and low-carbon development. This study explores construction land use efficiency (CLUE) in China and the USA by employing a slack-based measure (SBM) that incorporates carbon emissions as undesirable output to evaluate CLUE at the provincial/state level. The abatement potential (AP) of construction land use and carbon emissions through the land utilization process are further explored. We find (1) that the average CLUE in China (0.512) is relatively higher than that in the USA, but the CLUE in both countries is at a relatively low level; (2) that carbon emissions, as undesirable output, have a negative impact on CLUE; and (3) that the average AP for construction land is 0.485 in China and 0.696 in the USA, while the average AP for carbon emissions is 0.500 in China and 0.576 in the USA. Understanding these characteristics can lead to better coordination of emissions reduction policies and land use policies to optimize the construction land inputs in both countries, thereby sustaining land use management while reducing carbon emission.