## 4 Discussion
### Analysis of Factors Influencing Territorial Space Carbon Budgets in Lake-Intensive Regions  
Analyzing how territorial space elements affect carbon budgets in lake-intensive regions informs targeted strategies to mitigate carbon imbalances. In the Dongting Lakeregion, socioeconomic development is closely tied to carbon budget changes. Using the Kaya identity and the LMDI method, this study finds that regional GDP growth, population density, industrial restructuring, and energy consumption shifts significantly influence carbon emissions. In recent years, industrial restructuring and clean energy adoption have slowed carbon emission growth. Urbanization has reshaped urban-rural spatial patterns, further affecting carbon budget dynamics. Regional policy optimization has reduced carbon emissions, including high-carbon industry transitions, green infrastructure development, and energy structure improvements. Regarding the various factors influencing territorial carbon budgets in the Dongting Lake region, economic development and land-use efficiency are the primary driving forces. This finding aligns with existing research and highlights its applicability to lake-intensive regions [20,46].  
Specifically, economic development in the Dongting Lake region has cumulatively contributed approximately 1.31 \(\times\) 10\({}^{8}\) IC of carbon emissions, making it the most significant positive contributing factor. Existing literature similarly identifies economic development as a key driver of increased carbon emissions [47]. For example, [PERSON] demonstrated that per capita GDP is the most influential contributor to China's carbon emissions growth [48]. [PERSON] also highlighted that economic development contributes the most to China's carbon emissions [49]. Economic development typically brings an influx of capital, labor, and resources, driving production activities and living demands and substantially increasing territorial space carbon emissions [50]. Therefore, in advancing a low-carbon circular economy in lake-intensive regions, it is crucial to prioritize preserving carbon sink potential and implementing stringent emission reduction measures, particularly in lakeside areas.  
Furthermore, enhancing land use efficiency in territorial space is essential for mitigating carbon imbalances. This study reveals that improving energy and resource use efficiency can significantly reduce carbon emissions in the Dongting Lake region, especially given the rapid expansion of construction land near water bodies. Research by [PERSON] indicates that GDP per unit of land use area suppresses the total carbon emissions of China's Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration [51]. [PERSON] reported that land-use intensity per unit of GDP negatively affects carbon emissions from land use in Zhejiang Province's counties [22]. These findings support this study's conclusions, highlighting that improving land use efficiency in territorial space effectively curbs carbon emissions.  
In conclusion, strengthening land use management, optimizing territorial space layout, and limiting construction land expansion near water bodies are critical strategies for balancing carbon sources and sinks in lake-intensive regions. Rational spatial planning and improved land use efficiency can promote economic development in lake-intensive regions while sustaining the ecological environment and achieving harmony between economic growth and environmental sustainability.