How to promote the construction of low‐carbon cities in China? An urban complex ecosystem perspective

Abstract The escalation of carbon emissions has propelled global warming into a global issue requiring urgent attention. As primary contributors to global carbon emissions, cities constitute the central battleground for efforts aimed at carbon emission reduction. Notably, China, the world's largest carbon emitter, has channeled substantial human and financial resources towards the development of low‐carbon cities. However, the multifaceted challenges confronting Chinese low‐carbon city construction (LCC), including the lack of clearly defined construction strategies and deficiencies in government policy implementation, underscore the need for a systematic exploration of the influencing factors and mechanisms to overcome these obstacles. In response to this pressing need, this study utilizes a conceptual framework that is deeply rooted in the complex urban social‐economic‐natural‐management ecosystem. Within this framework, the study meticulously identified 12 influencing factors and, employing the pressure‐state‐response (PSR) model, categorized them to elucidate the dynamic and multidimensional nature of low‐carbon city construction. Subsequently, the DEMATEL method was employed to explore the causality and centrality of these 12 factors, and the ISM method was used to analyze the hierarchical structure and influencing factors and mechanisms of LCC. Three paths from LCC pressure to LCC response were established. Finally, three major implications were proposed to help Chinese LCC: (i) improve urban strategic planning applicability in a one‐city‐one‐policy manner, (ii) strengthen the green economy's long‐term development mechanism, and (iii) use the enthusiasm of market forces and public participation.