Integrated analysis of energy carbon emissions and air pollution in Ningxia based on MGWR and multisource remote sensing data

With the continuous increase in China’s carbon emission reduction efforts, energy transformation and energy revolution are advancing in multiple dimensions. To optimize the energy structure and carbon emission management, researchers must conduct in-depth studies on various factors and influencing mechanisms. Based on remote sensing data, such as aerosol optical thickness and nighttime light images, and natural and socioeconomic statistical data from 2013, 2016, and 2019, this study used a multiscale geographical weighted regression model (MGWR) to study the characteristics and factors influencing energy carbon emissions and air pollution indicators in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The energy structure and energy transformation models were characterized by analyzing the scale and spatial heterogeneity characteristics of the factors influencing energy carbon emissions and air pollution in Ningxia. The research results show that for energy carbon emissions, energy consumption has changed from a global-scale variable to a small-scale variable, and per capita disposable income became the largest impact-scale variable in 2019. Energy consumption is the most significant positive index of energy carbon emissions and air pollution, followed by per capita disposable income and river network distance. The per capita GDP is a significant negative indicator. The energy transformation in the Ningxia region shows temporal differences and regional imbalance, and the air quality, energy carbon emission index, and its influencing factors in the energy transformation industrial upgrading region have significantly changed, highlighting the achievements of China’s energy transformation policy and the construction of the Ningxia new energy comprehensive demonstration zone. This study analyzes the scale and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of factors influencing energy carbon emissions and air pollution indicators and has strong practical reference significance for promoting energy transformation, energy conservation, and emission reductions according to local conditions.