Decoupling relationship analysis between urbanization and carbon emissions in 33 African countries

Global warming is a serious environmental problem facing the world in the 21st century. Carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas, is the driver of global warming. Rapid urbanization has not only improved the quality of life, but has also led to radical increases in carbon emissions. In order to achieve a win-win situation between urbanization and carbon emissions reduction, research on the decoupling relationship between urbanization and carbon emissions has great significance, especially in Africa, where urbanization is advancing rapidly. This study explores the decoupling relationship between different types of urbanization (demographic urbanization, spatial urbanization, economic urbanization, social urbanization) and carbon emissions in Africa. The results show that the decoupling relationship between demographic urbanization and carbon emissions is similar to the decoupling relationship between spatial urbanization and carbon emissions. The decoupling relationship between economic urbanization and carbon emissions is similar to the decoupling relationship between social urbanization and carbon emissions. Only 4 of the 33 African countries studied have achieved the decoupling of four types of urbanization from carbon emissions in the long period (2000–2018). These findings can provide some guidance for the sustainable development of Africa.